From the information given we get the two equations:
(1) x + y = 48
(2) (1/3)*x = (1/6)*y + 5
x/3 = y/6 + 5
Equation (1) can be rearranged to give x = 48 - y
Now if we substitute this into (2) we get:
(48-y)/3 = y/6 + 5
Now multiply each side by 6:
96 - 2y = y + 30
66 = 3y
y = 22
if y = 22: x = 48 - 22 = 26, therefor the smaller number is 22