The sum of two numbers is 86.86. if twicetwice the smaller number is subtracted from the larger number, the result is 5.5. find the two numbers.

The way you have this typed is very confusing. You need to find 2 equations to solve for these 2 unknowns. The first is the sum of the 2 unknowns set to equal 86: x + y = 86. The second is y - 2x = 5 (I am defining y to be the larger of the 2 numbers here). Solve the first equation for y: y = 86-x. Now sub that in for y in the second equation: 86-x-2x=5 and - 3x = - 81 and x = 27. 27 + y = 86, therefore, y must equal 59