SOLUTION: Jake is four years older than Erin. Jake is three times as old as Danielle. The sum of their ages is 94. How old is Jake?

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Question 1135481: Jake is four years older than Erin. Jake is three times as old as Danielle. The sum of their ages is 94. How old is Jake?
Found 2 solutions by Alan3354, ikleyn:
Answer by Alan3354(69443)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Jake is four years older than Erin. Jake is three times as old as Danielle. The sum of their ages is 94. How old is Jake?
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J = E + 4
J = 3D
J + E + D = 94
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Can you do the rest of it?

Answer by ikleyn(52794)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

This problem is SIMPLE, and the major step in its solution is to choose the major unknown REASONABLY. 

Let D be the Daniel age.

Then Jake's age is 3D, according the condition,

     while Eric's age is (3D-4) years.


Now use the info about the sum of their ages.

It gives you an equation


    D + 3D + (3D-4) = 94.


Simplify and solve it

    7D - 4 = 94

    4D = 94 + 4 = 98

     D =  = 14.


Thus Daniel is 14 years old;  Jake is 3*14 = 42 years old.


ANSWER.  Jake is 42 years old.


CHECK.  14 + 42 + (42-4) = 94.     ! Correct !

Solved.

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Ideally,  each Math problem you solve in School,  should teach you something useful.


    This problem is to teach you to choose the major unknown in a reasonable way . . .



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