Two numbers have sum 48. The larger number is 10 more than the smaller. Find the smaller number.
Note
Let the smaller number be x because the question asks for the smaller number. Let the smaller number be x. The larger is x+10. Then 2x+10=48, giving x=19. Then write the larger number in terms of x, add both numbers, and set the sum equal to the given total. Solving gives the smaller number as 19.