Answer :
SOLUTION
Given the question in the tab, the following are the solution steps to answer the question.
STEP 1: Represent the numbers
Let the larger number be represented by x
Let the smaller number be represented by y
STEP 2: Interpret the statements
Sum of the numbers equal 16
[tex]x+y=16[/tex]Large number is four less than three times the smaller number
[tex]x=3y-4[/tex]STEP 3: Solve for the numbers using substitution method
[tex]\begin{gathered} \text{By substitution,} \\ (3y-4)+y=16 \\ 3y+y=16+4 \\ 4y=20 \\ y=\frac{20}{4} \\ y=5 \end{gathered}[/tex]Solve for x using substitution.
[tex]\begin{gathered} x+y=16 \\ x=16-y \\ By\text{ substitution,} \\ x=16-5 \\ x=11 \end{gathered}[/tex]Hence, the numbers are 11 and 5