document.write( "Question 201833: Justin is 4 years older than Ethan. In 9 years the sum of their ages will be 28. Find the age of each boy now. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #152075 by PRMath(133)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! Justin is 4 years older than Ethan. In 9 years the sum of their ages will be 28. Find the age of each boy now. \r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Justin is 4 years older than Ethan. Justin will ALWAYS be 4 years older than Ethan. \r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So let's say Ethan is \"E\" \n" ); document.write( "Justin is \"J\".\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Some day (we don't know when) but some day, when you add their ages together, their ages will add up to be 28.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So, we can say: E + J = 28\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "But.... Justin is 4 years older than Ethan: J = 4 + E\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Therefore, our equation of E + J = 28 should REALLY be: \r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "J = 4 + E \n" ); document.write( "E + 4 + E = 28\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Do you see how we replaced \"J\" with \"4 + E\"? \r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Ok, so now we have:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "E + 4 + E = 28 (Let's combine our like terms) \n" ); document.write( "2E + 4 = 28 (1E + 1E = 2E) \n" ); document.write( "2E = 28 - 4 (Let's subtract 4 from both sides) \n" ); document.write( "2E = 24 (Now let's divide both sides by 2)\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " E = 12\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "SO if Ethan is 12 and Justin is 4 years older, Justin is 16.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "ETHAN = 12 \n" ); document.write( "JUSTIN = 12 + 4 which is 16\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If you combine (add) their ages: 12 + 16 = 28\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "BUT they are at that age in NINE years! So what are they now? Just subtract 9 from both of their ages:\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Ethan: 12 - 9 = 3 \n" ); document.write( "Justin: 16 - 9 = 7\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "At 7, Justin is 4 years older than Ethan, who is three.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "SOooooo right now they are 3 and 7. \r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |