document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=187899>Question 187899</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> How do I express this word problem in algebra?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Brenda is three years older than Ken. If the product of their ages is 180, how old are they?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I know that by trial and error, the answer is 15 and 12 but I am completely stumped in trying to express this algebraically. I have tried using linear and simultaneous methods to no avail. Please help me! \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #140855 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jojo14344><B>jojo14344(1513)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-12.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jojo14344><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=140855\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <font face=\"Tahoma\" size=1.5><BR>\n" );
document.write( "</pre><font size=4><b><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let <font color=red>x</font>=Ken's Age<BR>\n" );
document.write( "So, <font color=red>x+3</font>= Brenda's Age\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Condition: Ken's Age x Brenda's Age = 180<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(x)(x+3)=180<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2+3x-180=0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(x+15)(x-12)=0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=-15, discard & <font color=red>x=12</font>, Ken's Age<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3+12=<font color=red>15</font>, Brenda's Age\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Thank you,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Jojo</font><BR>\n" );
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