SOLUTION: A man has 5 sons. Each son is 3 times older than the next younger. The oldest will be 3 times older than the next to younger in 3 years. How old is each son?

Question 240350: A man has 5 sons. Each son is 3 times older than the next younger. The oldest will be 3 times older than the next to younger in 3 years. How old is each son?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A man has 5 sons. Each son is 3 times older than the next younger. The oldest will be 3 times older than the next to younger in 3 years. How old is each son?
:
Sons, a, b, c, d, e; (a is the oldest)
a = 3b
b = 3c
c = 3d
d = 3e
:
"The oldest will be 3 times older than the next to younger in 3 years."
Assume the next to younger is c
:
a + 3 = 3(c + 3)
a + 3 = 3c + 9
a = 3c + 9 - 3
a = 3c + 6
:
b = 3c and a = 3b, therefore
a = 3(3c)
a = 9c
:
Replace a with 9c
9c = 3c + 6
9c - 3c = 6
6c = 6
c = 1 yr old
then
a = 9(1)
a = 9 yrs old
and
b = 3(1)
b = 3 yrs old
:
This leaves d and e younger than 1, does make sense, does it?
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