document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=946975>Question 946975</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Alice, Brent and Celeste are cousins. The sum of their ages is 76. The sum of the ages of alice and Celeste is 1 year more than Brent's age. Celeste is 7 1/2 years older than Alice. What are the ages of Alice, Brent and Celeste? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #577723 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=ankor@dixie-net.com><B>ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=ankor@dixie-net.com><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=ankor@dixie-net.com><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=577723\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Alice, Brent and Celeste are cousins.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "call them a, b, & c; write an equation for each statement<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " The sum of their ages is 76.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a + b + c = 76<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " The sum of the ages of Alice and Celeste is 1 year more than Brent's age.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a + c = b + 1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "or<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a - b + c = 1<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " Celeste is 7 1/2 years older than Alice.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "c = a + 7.5<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "take the 1st and 2nd equation, <BR>\n" );
document.write( "a + b + c = 76<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a - b + c = 1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "---------------- adding eliminates b<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2a + 2c = 77<BR>\n" );
document.write( "substitute (a+7.5) for c, from the 3rd statement<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2a + 2(a+7.5) = 77<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2a + 2a + 15 = 77<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4a = 77 - 15<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4a = 62<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a = 62/4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a = 15.5 yrs is Alice<BR>\n" );
document.write( "then<BR>\n" );
document.write( "c = 15.5 + 7.5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "c = 23 yrs is Celeste<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Find b using the first equation, replace a & c<BR>\n" );
document.write( "15.5 + b + 23 = 76<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b + 38.5 = 76<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = 76 -38.5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = 37.5 yr is Brent<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "\" What are the ages of Alice, Brent and Celeste? 15.5, 37.5, 23<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "See that they add up to 76 </SPAN>\n" );
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