document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=174684>Question 174684</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Here is a difficult word problem I am struggling with: \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "8-year-old Samantha visited Santa at a local department store. He gave her this riddle: \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "\" I started working at 15. I spent 1/4 of my working life in a factory. I spent 1/5 of my working life in an office, and I spent 1/3 of my working life as a school caretaker. For the last 13 years of my working life I've been Santa Claus. How old am I?\" \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The problem says you need to explain how you got the answer and how you know it is correct. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I am not sure how to explain either of those things! What operations could you do? How do you figure this problem out overall? \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Thanks! \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "-Shelby </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #129728 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Alan3354><B>Alan3354(69443)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Alan3354><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=Alan3354><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=129728\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\">  I started working at 15. I spent 1/4 of my working life in a factory. I spent 1/5 of my working life in an office, and I spent 1/3 of my working life as a school caretaker. For the last 13 years of my working life I've been Santa Claus. How old am I?\" <BR>\n" );
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document.write( "1/4 + 1/5 + 1/3 = 15/60 + 12/60 + 20/60 = 47/60 of his working life.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The remaining 13/60 must be the 13 yrs as Santa, so that's 60 years.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Add the 15 when he started, and he's 75.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "As a check:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1/4 of 60 = 15<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1/5 of 60 = 12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1/2 of 60 = 30<BR>\n" );
document.write( "That adds to 47 years.  Add 15 and 13, that's 75. </SPAN>\n" );
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