SOLUTION: A man is now 5 times as old as his son, four years ago the product of their ages was 52. Find their present ages.

Question 773312: A man is now 5 times as old as his son, four years ago the product of their ages was 52. Find their present ages.
Answer by Cromlix(4381) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A man is now 5 times as old as his son.
M = 5S
4 years ago the product of their ages = 52
M - 4 * S - 4 = 52
Replace M with 5S
5S - 4 * S - 4 = 52
5S^2 - 20S - 4S + 16 = 52
5S^2 - 24S + 16 - 52 = 0
5S^2 - 24S - 36 = 0
(5S + 6)(s - 6) = 0
5S + 6 = 0
5S = -6
S = -6/5 (No answer as x < 0)
s - 6 = 0
s = 6
Son = 6 years old
Father = 30 years old
Hope this helps.
:-)
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