let's say the two numbers are "a" and "b"
both add up to 272, thus
a + b = 272
now, the first is 254 bigger than the second, or
"a" is 254 bigger than "b", namely a = b + 254
thus [tex]\bf \begin{cases}
a+b=272\\\\
\boxed{a}=b+254\\
----------\\
\left( \boxed{b+254} \right)+b=272
\end{cases}[/tex]
solve for "b"
what about "a"? well, a = b + 254
