A first number plus twice a second number is 3. Twice the first number plus the second totals 24.

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A first number plus twice a second number is 3. Twice the first number plus the second totals 24.

Let the first number be x. Let the second number be y. We're given:

1. x + 2y = 3 <-- Because twice means multiply by 2
2. 2x + y = 24 <-- Because twice means multiply by 2

We have a system of equations. We can solve it any one of three ways:

• Substitution Method
• Elimination Method
• Cramer's Rule

No matter which way we choose, we get:

• x = 15
• y = -6