Answer:
12
Step-by-step explanation:
Let s represent the smaller number and n the larger number.
Then s + n = 36. s = (1/2)n. Substituting (1/2)n for s, we get:
(1/2)n + n = 36, or (3/2)n = 36.
Multiplying both sides of this equation by (2/3) will isolate n as desired:
(2/3)(3/2)n = (2/3)(36) = 24. Then n = 24 and s = (1/2)(24) = 12. The smaller number is 12.
Check: do 12 and 24 add up to 36? Yes.
