SOLUTION: Right now, Daniel is 8 years older than his cousin Zach. Two years from now, Daniel will be 3 times as old as Zach. How old is Daniel now? I tried: Daniel = x+8 Zach= x I

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Question 594117: Right now, Daniel is 8 years older than his cousin Zach. Two years from now, Daniel will be 3 times as old as Zach. How old is Daniel now?
I tried:
Daniel = x+8
Zach= x
In two years: 3x = 2+x
3x - x = 2
2x = 2
x = 1
x + 8 = 9
Therefore Daniel is 9.
But that is incorrect!
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x = Zach's age

So if "Daniel is 8 years older than his cousin Zach" and Zach is x years old, then Daniel is x+8 years old


In two years, their ages will be

Zach's age in 2 years = x+2

Daniel's age in 2 years = (x+8)+2 = x+10



So if "Two years from now, Daniel will be 3 times as old as Zach", this means we have the equation


Daniel's Age In Two Years = 3*(Zach's Age In Two Years)

x + 10 = 3(x+2)


I'll let you solve the equation x + 10 = 3(x+2) for x. Let me know what you get.