Questions on Word Problems: Age answered by real tutors!

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Question 152588: Leah is 6 years older than her sister Sue and John is 5 years older than Leah and the total of their ages is 41. How old is Sue?: Leah is 6 years older than her sister Sue and John is 5 years older than Leah and the total of their ages is 41. How old is Sue?
Answer by jojo14344(832) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let's make X=age for all reference.
1st condition:
Sue=X(years), Sue's age
Leah=X+6(years), leah being 6 years older than Sue
2nd condition:
John=X+6+5(years), John being 5 years older than Leah
Equating to totasl age:
x+x+6+x+6+5=41years --------> working eqn
3x=41-6-6-5
3x=24 -------------> cross(3)x/cross(3)=cross(24)8/cross(3)
x=8 years old (Sue)
Leah= 8+6=14, 6 years older than Sue
John= 8+6+5=19, 5 years older than Leah
In doubt? go back to our condition & working eqn.
8+8+6+8+6+5=41
41=41
Thank you,
Jojo