SOLUTION: A wizard was asked how old he was. He replied in a riddle: "I am still very young as wizards go.I am only three times my son's age. My father is 40 years more than twice my age. To

Question 197599: A wizard was asked how old he was. He replied in a riddle: "I am still very young as wizards go.I am only three times my son's age. My father is 40 years more than twice my age. Together the three of us are a mere 1240 years old." How old is the wizard? Explain and show all work to recieve full credit.
This is how i set it up but i have no idea if this is right and i am having trouble solving this equation if it is the correct equation to solve this problem.
1240=3x+2y+40
Answer by stanbon(75887) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A wizard was asked how old he was. He replied in a riddle: "I am still very young as wizards go.I am only three times my son's age. My father is 40 years more than twice my age. Together the three of us are a mere 1240 years old." How old is the wizard? Explain and show all work to recieve full credit.
This is how i set it up but i have no idea if this is right and i am having trouble solving this equation if it is the correct equation to solve this problem.
1240=3x+2y+40
-------------------------
You have three variables: w, s, and f
w = 3s
f = 2w+40
w + s + f = 1240
----------------------
Substitute to solve for "w"
w + (1/3)w + 2w + 40 = 1240
3w + (1/3)w = 1200
(10/3)w = 1200
w = 3*120
w= 360 years old (the wizard's age)
s = (1/3)w = 120 year old (the son's age)
f = 2w + 40 = 760 (years old (the father's age)
==============================
Cheers,
Stan H.
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