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" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "8-year-old Samantha visited Santa at a local department store. He gave her this riddle: \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
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" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "The problem says you need to explain how you got the answer and how you know it is correct. \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
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" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Thanks! \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
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 #129729 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=129729\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 8-year-old Samantha visited Santa at a local department store. He gave her this riddle: <BR>\n" );
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?\" <BR>\n" );
document.write( "The problem says you need to explain how you got the answer and how you know it is correct. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "-----------------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let \"x\" be the number of working-life years.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "factory time: (1/4)x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "office time : (1/5)x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "school time : (1/3)x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Santa time  : 13 years<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-------------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Working-life equation: (1/4)x + (1/5)x + (1/3)x + 13 = x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "15x + 12x + 20x + 60*13 = 60x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "47x + 60*13 = 60x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "13x = 60*13<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 60 (years he worked)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Age = 15 + 60 = 75 yrs. old<BR>\n" );
document.write( "===============================<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );