SOLUTION: please help me to solve the following problem. m Brian is 4 years older than Bob while Bob is 11 years older than Mark. If their combined age is 86 years, how old is Brian?

Question 1040132: please help me to solve the following problem. m
Brian is 4 years older than Bob while Bob is 11 years older than Mark. If their combined age is 86 years, how old is Brian?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let x = Brian's age
let y = Bob's age
let z = Marks age
:
Write and equation for each phrase
:
Brian is 4 years older than Bob while
x = y + 4
Bob is 11 years older than Mark.
y = z + 11
or
z = y - 11
If their combined age is 86 years,
x + y + z = 86
Replace x and z using the above equations
(y+4) + y + (y-11) = 86
3y - 7 = 86
3y = 86 + 7
y = 93/3
y = 31
:
how old is Brian?
x = 31 + 4
x = 35 yrs is Brian
:
:
You can confirm this for yourself, find z and see if they add up to 86
RELATED QUESTIONS
Please help me solve the following questions. Brian is 4 years older than Bob while Bob... (answered by ikleyn)

brian is 2 years older than bob who is 7 years older than mark. if their combined age 61... (answered by mananth)

Al is 2 years older than Bob. Bob is 4 years younger than Carl. The sum of the three... (answered by stanbon)

bob is two years older than jim. if the sum of their ages is 104 years. how old is bob? (answered by stanbon)

Jim is older than Bob. Together, they are 60 years old. If Bob is 8 years younger than... (answered by FrankM)

Bob is 8 years older than Sue. 4 years ago, Bob was twice as old as Sue. What is the sum... (answered by josgarithmetic)

Bob is six years older than his sister, and the sum of their ages is 32. How old is... (answered by Marth)

Bob is 10 years older than kim. The sum of their age is 60. How old is... (answered by ikleyn)