One number is 5 greater than another number. If their total is 19, what is the smaller number?

Explanation

Let the smaller number be x. Then the larger number is x + 5. Their sum is given as x + (x + 5) = 19, which simplifies to 2x + 5 = 19. Solving for x, we get 2x = 14, so x = 7. Therefore, the smaller number is 7.