let "L" represent the population of Linton
and "E" represent the population of Ellmore
12 times E = L
because "Linton is 12 times as great as .. Ellmore"
then E + L = 9646
because "the combined population is 9646"
since L = 12*E
we can plug that into the other equation and get:
E + 12*E = 9646
13*E = 9646 [by adding like terms]
E = 742 [by divided both sides by 13]
so now we have E
we can plug that back into the 1st equation to get L
12*(742) = L
L = 8904
so Population of Linton = 8904
and the Population of Ellmore = 742
