document.write( "Question 780863: my age plus my son age is equal to my fathers age which is 78 years old.when i was my son age he was just a quarter as old as i am now.how old am i? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #475935 by Edwin McCravy(20056)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
my age plus my son age is equal to my fathers age which is 78 years old.
\n" ); document.write( "
\r\n" );
document.write( "Let My age = M\r\n" );
document.write( "Let my son's age = S.  So\r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "M + S = 78\r\n" );
document.write( "

\n" ); document.write( "when I was my son age
\n" ); document.write( "
\r\n" );
document.write( "Let that be x years ago, which means \r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "M - x = S  and my son was S - x\r\n" );
document.write( "

\n" ); document.write( "he was just a quarter as old as i am now.
\n" ); document.write( "
\r\n" );
document.write( "S - x = \"1%2F4\"M\r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "So we have three equations in 3 unknowns:\r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "M + S = 78\r\n" );
document.write( "M - x = S\r\n" );
document.write( "S - x = \"1%2F4\"M\r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "Clear the fraction in the third one:\r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "M + S = 78\r\n" );
document.write( "M - x = S\r\n" );
document.write( "4S - 4x = M\r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "Line up the letters and symbols:\r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( " M +  S     = 78\r\n" );
document.write( " M -  S - x =  0\r\n" );
document.write( "-M - 4S - 4x = 0 \r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "Solve that system of equations and get\r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "M = 48, S = 30, x = 18\r\n" );
document.write( "

\n" ); document.write( "how old am i?
\n" ); document.write( "
\r\n" );
document.write( "So I am 48.\r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "---------------------------------\r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "Checking:\r\n" );
document.write( "

\n" ); document.write( "my age plus my son age is equal to my father's age which is 78 years old.
\n" ); document.write( "
\r\n" );
document.write( "48+30 = 78 that checks\r\n" );
document.write( "

\n" ); document.write( "when I was my son age,
\n" ); document.write( "
\r\n" );
document.write( "that is 18 years ago when I was 48-18 or 30. That checks.\r\n" );
document.write( "

\n" ); document.write( "he was just a quarter as old as i am now.
\n" ); document.write( "
\r\n" );
document.write( "18 years ago he was 30-18 or 12, which is just a quarter of 48.\r\n" );
document.write( "That checks. \r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "Edwin
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" );