document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=6199>Question 6199</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Adam is half as old as Bob and three times as old as Cindy. If the sum of their ages is 40, what is Bob's age?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "I know that the answer is 24 through a technique called \"Backsolving\". But I would like to know how to translate the problem into an equation or equations that can be used to solve the problem.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "I got only this far:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let x=Bob<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let y=Adam<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let z=Cindy<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+y+z=40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "But after this I am confused about how to translate the the y and z variables into an equation format to get the correct solution. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #3304 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jst_kidding><B>jst_kidding(6)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-05.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jst_kidding><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=3304\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> easy sum !!<BR>\n" );
document.write( "let the ages of-<BR>\n" );
document.write( "bob=x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "adam=x/2 (since he is half as old as bob)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "cindys=x/6 (since adam is three times older than her)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Now-<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+ x/2 + x/6 = 40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "LCM=6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "By solving for x we get-<BR>\n" );
document.write( "6x+3x+x=40*6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "10x=40*6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=24<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );