Let the two numbers be represented by x and y respectively.
Then x + y = 23, and x - y = 5.
Solve this system of linear equations for x and y. Start by rearranging them vertically:
x + y = 23
x - y = 5
--------------- Combining the two equations eliminates y:
2x = 28.
Then x = 14. If x = 14, then 14 + y = 23, and y = 9..
The solution is (14, 9); that is, x = 14 and y = 9.
