I need help I don’t understand I tried a billion times

Consecutive means they are right next to each other.
For example 6 and 7. 6+7 = 13
Or 8 and 9. 8+9=17
Hope that helps
One number is 4 less than 3 times another. Their sum is 16. Find the smaller.
y + (3y - 4) = 16
4y - 4 = 16
4y = 20
y = 5
x = 3(5) - 4 = 11
____________________________________________________________
Two consecutive odd numbers total 32. Find the smaller.
Consecutive odd numbers are always 2 numbers apart.
(x) + (x + 2) = 32
2x + 2 = 32
2x = 30
x = 15