SOLUTION: lisa is five times older than her son. After 2 years, the sum of their ages will be 40, how old are they now?

Question 1142641: lisa is five times older than her son. After 2 years, the sum of their ages will be 40, how old are they now?

Found 2 solutions by Alan3354, MathTherapy:
Answer by Alan3354(69443) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
lisa is five times older than her son. After 2 years, the sum of their ages will be 40, how old are they now?
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L = 6S now
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In 2 years:
L+2 + (S+2) = 40
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Sub for L
6S+2 + (S+2) = 40
7S = 36
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No integer solution, becauce 5 times older is not 5 times as old.
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1 time older = 100% more = 2 times as old
2 times older = 200% more = 3 times as old
.
.
5 times older = 500% more = 6 times as old
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PS This is not your fault, no reflection on you.
It's another example of people writing math problems and math books who do not know the subject.
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You see things like "5 times smaller" and "10 times closer."
1 time smaller is zero, how can something be 5 times smaller? Or 10 times closer?
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It's call gibberish.
Gibberish is not allowed in math.

Answer by MathTherapy(10552) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

lisa is five times older than her son. After 2 years, the sum of their ages will be 40, how old are they now?

Probably meant 5 times AS OLD, which is NOT the same as 5 TIMES OLDER.
It'd be better for the problem to state that she is 5 TIMES HER SON'S AGE. Much easier, and PERFECTLY CORRECT.
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