If x:y = 7:4 and x+y = 88 , work out the value of x–y.

We know that x:y is 7:4, and therefore x is seven-elevenths of the total value of x and y. Therefore we can express x = 7/11 (x+y). Since we also know that the total of x+y is 88, we can substitute this into our x value. This means that x= 7/11 (88).Since 1/11 of 88 is 8, 7/11 is 8x7=56. Now that we have worked out the value of x, we can work out the value of y using the second equation in the question. If x is 56, that means that 56+y = 88, so y = 88-56 = 32.Now that we have both the values of x and y, we can perform the requested sum, x-y. x-y = 56-32 = 24.

RS
Answered by Reece S. Maths tutor

11411 Views

See similar Maths GCSE tutors

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

A family go into a shop, they buy three sandwiches and two packets of crisps. It costs them £9. Another family buy five sandwiches and six packets of crisps. It costs them £19. How much does two sandwiches and five packets of crisps cost?


How do you rearrange x = (2y+1)/(3y+4) to get y in terms of x?


Solve (2x^2 - 3x - 14)/(x^2 + 6x + 8) = -6/(x+3).


Multiply out and simplify (x+7)(x-3)


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning