document.write( "Question 242516: I've tried charting this several different ways and I am stuck. Kaitlyn is 5 years older than Ethan. Ethan is 3 years younger than Shelby. Shelby is 2 years younger than Kaitlyn. The sum of all three ages is 7 less than 3 times the age of Kaitlyn. How old is Kaitlyn? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #177558 by scott8148(6628)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! \" Kaitlyn is 5 years older than Ethan\" ___ K = E + 5 ___ K - 5 = E\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"Ethan is 3 years younger than Shelby\" ___ E = S - 3\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"Shelby is 2 years younger than Kaitlyn\" ___ S = K - 2\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"The sum of all three ages is 7 less than 3 times the age of Kaitlyn\" ___ K + E + S = 3K - 7\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "substituting ___ K + K - 5 + K - 2 = 3K - 7 ___ 3K - 7 = 3K - 7\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "there is not enough information to determine a unique age for any of the three \n" ); document.write( "___ the number of independent equations must equal the number of unknowns \n" ); document.write( "___ any one of the given relationships can be found from the other two; this means the equations are NOT independent \n" ); document.write( " |