SOLUTION: Tom is 3 times as old as his cousin Sam and 14 years older than his parrot Polly. In 4 years, Lucy will be half as old as Polly. How old is Tom ??

Question 582942: Tom is 3 times as old as his cousin Sam and 14 years older than his parrot Polly. In 4 years, Lucy will be half as old as Polly. How old is Tom ??
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Tom is 3 times as old as his cousin Sam and 14 years older than his parrot Polly.
In 4 years, Lucy will be half as old as Polly. How old is Tom ??
:
Let t = Tom's age
Let s = Sam's age
Let p = parrot's age
Let L = Lucy's age
;
Write an equation for each statement:;
:
"Tom is 3 times as old as his cousin Sam"
t = 3s
;
" and 14 years older than his parrot Polly."
t = p + 14
:
"In 4 years, Lucy will be half as old as Polly."
L + 4 = .5(p+4)
L + 4 = .5p + 2
L = .5p + 2 - 4
L = .5p - 2
:
How old is Tom ??
:
A lot of unrelated facts here, all we know for sure is Tom is at least 15 years old and his age is multiple of 3, the parrot is an even number of years old in order for Lucy to be half it's age
:
Let's say Tom is 24, then Sam is 8, parrot is 10,
Find Lucy's age
L + 4 = .5(10+4)
L + 4 = 7
L = 7 - 4
Lucy is 3
;
Tom is 24 is one answer

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