SOLUTION: If Leah is 6 years older than sue and john is 5 years older than Leah and the total of their ages is 41. Then how old is sue? please show me how to set up the equation for this

Question 234636: If Leah is 6 years older than sue and john is 5 years older than Leah and the total of their ages is 41. Then how old is sue?
please show me how to set up the equation for this
Found 2 solutions by stanbon, Stitch:
Answer by stanbon(48568) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If Leah is 6 years older than sue and john is 5 years older than Leah and the total of their ages is 41. Then how old is sue?
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Equations:
L + S + J = 41
S = L - 6
J = L + 5
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Substitute and solve for "L"
L + (L-6) + (L+5) = 41
3L = 42
L = 14 (Leah's age)
S = L-6 = 8 (Sue's age)
J = L+5 = 19 (John's age)
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Cheers,
Stan H.

Answer by Stitch(187) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Leah's age = A
Sue's age = B
John age = C
Equation 1:
Leah is 6 years older than so, that gives us equation 2.
Equation 2:
John is 5 years older than Leah, that gives us equation 3.

You can rewrite John's age in terms of Sue.
C = A + 5 & A = B + 6
There fore C = B + 6 + 5
Substitute the new value for C into equation 1.
A + B + C = 41
Then substitute equation 2 in for A in equation 1.
A = B + 6
Combine like terms
Substract 17 from both sides
Divide both sides by 3

Sue is 8