SOLUTION: the sum of the ages of the girl and brother is 26 years. 3 years ago her age was four time the age of her brother. find the present ages of the girl and brother??

Question 896733: the sum of the ages of the girl and brother is 26 years. 3 years ago her age was four time the age of her brother. find the present ages of the girl and brother??
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let g = girl's present age
let b = brother's age
:
Write an equation for each statement
:
the sum of the ages of the girl and brother is 26 years.
g + b = 26
:
3 years ago her age was four time the age of her brother.
g - 3 = 4(b-3)
g - 3 = 4b - 12
g = 4b - 12 + 3
g = 4b - 9
Arrange equation for elimination
g - 4b = -9
Subtract above from the 1st equation
g + b = 26
g - 4b = -9
-------------Subtraction eliminates g, find b
0 + 5b = 35
b = 35/5
b = 7 yrs is brother's present age
:
I'll let you find the girl's age; (g + 7 = 26)
:
:
Check your solutions in the 2nd statement

RELATED QUESTIONS
the sum of the ages of the girl and brother is 26 years. 3 years ago her age was four... (answered by YvonneGodsway)

the sum of the ages of a girl and her brother is 26 years.three years ago her age was... (answered by josgarithmetic,ikleyn)

The sum of the age of a girl and her brother is 26 years.three years age,her age was four (answered by rothauserc)

the sum of ages of girl and brother is 26 years.After three years her age was 4 times of... (answered by josgarithmetic,ikleyn)

a girl is 4 years older than her brother. 2 years ago the sum of their ages was 20. What... (answered by josmiceli)

Sumana's age is 2 times greater than the age of her brother. 3 years ago, Sumana's age... (answered by Theo)

The sum of the ages of Sally and her brother is 40. Sally is 8 years older than her... (answered by ikleyn)

A girl is 21 years old and her brother is a third of her age. When the girl is 36, what... (answered by ikleyn,Alan3354)

Joyce is twice the age of her brother Pepe. Five years ago, the sum of their ages is 59.... (answered by Cromlix)