5 times the smaller number of two consecutive numbers is added to 3 times the bigger, the result is 579. find the smaller number

Give the smaller number a name. Call it ' Q '.

The numbers are consecutive, so the larger number is (Q + 1).

Five times the smaller number is 5Q.

Three times the bigger number is 3 (Q+1) = 3Q+3.

The problem says that when you add all this up ... 5Q + (3Q+3) ... you get 579.

5Q + 3Q + 3 = 579

Clean up the left side:

8Q + 3 = 579

Subtract 3 from each side:

8Q = 576

Divide each side by 8:

Q = 72

The smaller number is 72, and the larger number is 73.