Answer:
x = -6
Step-by-step explanation:
Represent the two numbers as x and x+1.
Then their sum, x + x + 1, is 8 less than three times the difference of the two numbers. Represent the difference as x - (x+1), or -1. 8 less than three times this -1. Then:
x + x + 1 = 3(-1) - 8, or
2x + 1 = -11, or 2x = -12. Solving for x by dividing both sides by 2, we get:
x = -6.
The first number is -6 and the second is -6+1, or -5.
