SOLUTION: Your cousin is 26 yrs older than your sister. The product of their ages is 560. How old is your sister?

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Question 8318: Your cousin is 26 yrs older than your sister. The product of their ages is 560. How old is your sister?
Answer by bonster(299) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
sister=x
cousin=26+x

product: multiply the two
(x)(26+x)=560
26x%2Bx%5E2=560
x%5E2%2B26x-560=0
(x+40)(x-14)=0

if x+40=0, x=-40 <--since her sister can't be a negative age, we know it must use (x-14)=0

if x-14=0, x=14

Your sister is 14 years old