You can
put this solution on YOUR website! I started working at 15. I spent 1/4 of my working life in a factory. I spent 1/5 of my working life in an office, and I spent 1/3 of my working life as a school caretaker. For the last 13 years of my working life I've been Santa Claus. How old am I?"
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1/4 + 1/5 + 1/3 = 15/60 + 12/60 + 20/60 = 47/60 of his working life.
The remaining 13/60 must be the 13 yrs as Santa, so that's 60 years.
Add the 15 when he started, and he's 75.
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As a check:
1/4 of 60 = 15
1/5 of 60 = 12
1/2 of 60 = 30
That adds to 47 years. Add 15 and 13, that's 75.
You can
put this solution on YOUR website!8-year-old Samantha visited Santa at a local department store. He gave her this riddle:
" I started working at 15. I spent 1/4 of my working life in a factory. I spent 1/5 of my working life in an office, and I spent 1/3 of my working life as a school caretaker. For the last 13 years of my working life I've been Santa Claus. How old am I?"
The problem says you need to explain how you got the answer and how you know it is correct.
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Let "x" be the number of working-life years.
factory time: (1/4)x
office time : (1/5)x
school time : (1/3)x
Santa time : 13 years
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Working-life equation: (1/4)x + (1/5)x + (1/3)x + 13 = x
15x + 12x + 20x + 60*13 = 60x
47x + 60*13 = 60x
13x = 60*13
x = 60 (years he worked)
Age = 15 + 60 = 75 yrs. old
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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