SOLUTION: John is 3 years younger than James. In 3 years, the product of John's age and James' age will be equal to 270. What are their current ages? Set up 2 polynomial equations. John's

Question 769604: John is 3 years younger than James. In 3 years, the product of John's age and James' age will be equal to 270. What are their current ages?
Set up 2 polynomial equations. John's current age, x and James' current age, y.
Solve problem symbolically. Show all steps.
Answer by mananth(16946) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
john age x
james age =y
y-x=3......................(1)
y=x+3
(x+3)(y+3)=270..............(2)
xy+3x+3y+9=270
substitute y
x(x+3)+3x+3(x+3)+9=270
x^2+3x+3x+3x+9+9=270
x^2+9x+18=270
x^2+9x-252=0
x^2+21x-12x-252=0
x(x+21)-12(x+21)=0
(x+21)(x-12)=0
x= -21 OR 12
age cannot be negative so x=12
The ages are 12 & 15
RELATED QUESTIONS
John is 6 years older than James. In 5 years John will be 3 times as old as James was 3... (answered by EMStelley)

James is now exactly twice as old as John. In three years Johns age will be two thirds of (answered by hamsanash1981@gmail.com)

Michael is 3 more than twice John�s age. In 3 years Michael will be 3 years older than... (answered by ikleyn)

John is two years older than James, and Matt is half John's age, the sum of their age is... (answered by Edwin McCravy)

Q.let J be jesse's present age 1.What will jesse's agee in 9 years? Answer: J+9... (answered by jim_thompson5910)

at the moment john is 5 years older than mary. in seven years mary age will be 3/4 of... (answered by lwsshak3)

James is 19 times as old as Bill. Frank is 30 Years younger than James. In 6 Years James' (answered by Leaf W.,scott8148,josmiceli)

John is currently two years older than half of his father's age in years. In 12 years,... (answered by algebrahouse.com)

There are 2 brothers. John is 12 years younger than Mike. In 9 years, John will half... (answered by Maths68)