The sum of two numbers is 50 and the difference is 18. what are the numbers?

Question is a trick question

We can create two equations from this information.
"The Sum Of Two Numbers Is 50"
x + y = 50
"And The Difference Is 18"
x - y = 18

So we have two equations, we can solve one of them for one of the variables.

x - y = 18

Add 'y' to both sides:

x = 18 + y

Now we can plug this in for 'x' in the first equation:

x + y = 50

(18 + y) + y = 50

Combine like terms(y + y = 2y):

2y + 18 = 50

Subtract 18 to both sides:

2y = 32

Divide 2 to both sides:

y = 16

Now we can plug this in for 'y' in either of the two equations to find 'x':

x + y = 50

x + 16 = 50

Subtract 16 to both sides:

x = 34