Have the first number be x and the other number be y.
Write the first equation: The sum is 38:
x+y=38
Then the second equation: x is 5 more than than 2y:
x=2y+5
Take the first equation and make it y=38-x
Then substitute it in for the 2nd equation to find x:
x=2(38-x)+5
x=76-2x+5
3x=81
x=27
Then substitute that into the 1st equation to find y:
(27)+y=38
y=11
The first number (x) is greater than the second number (y) because 27 is greater than 11
