Question

When you subtract a 2-digit number from a 3-digit number, the difference is 473. What are the numbers?

Answer 1

`33` and `506`.

Explanation:

The initial number is a 3-digit number, `x`, and the subtracted number is a 2-digit number, `y`.

Therefore,

`x - y = 473`

Plug in any two digit number for `y`, and solve for `x`. I chose `33`, my age.

`x - 33 = 473`

`x = 473 + 33`

`x = 506`

As you can see, you can use a multitude of different numbers, as long as they satisfy the requirements.

Answer 2

Assuming that the 2-digit number is positive, there are 90 possible pairs of numbers.

Explanation:

The positive 2-digit numbers are `10` to `99`. (90 numbers)

he 3-digit number must be

`473+10` to `473+99`

If a negative 2-digit number is allowed, then there are 90 more pairs

2-digit: `-10` `" "` to`" "` `-99` (90 more numbers)

3-digit: `473+(-10)` `" "` to `" "` `473+(-99)`