document.write( "Question 1095287: The sum of age of matt and Sam is 29,sam and Ben 26,ben and Matt 31,how old is the youngest? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #709836 by ikleyn(52932) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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document.write( "We are given\r\n" );
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document.write( "M + S = 29,        (1)\r\n" );
document.write( "S + B = 26,        (2)\r\n" );
document.write( "B + M = 31.        (3)\r\n" );
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document.write( "Add all three equations (1), (2) and (3). You will get\r\n" );
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document.write( "2M + 2S + 2B = 29 + 26 + 31 = 86.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Divide by 2 both sides of the last equation. You will get\r\n" );
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document.write( "M + S + B = 43.    (4)\r\n" );
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document.write( "Now, subtract eq(1) from eq(4). You will get\r\n" );
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document.write( "B = 43 - 29 = 14.     ====>  Ben is 14 years old.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Next, subtract eq(2) from eq(4). You will get\r\n" );
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document.write( "M = 43 - 26 = 17.     ====>  Matt is 17 years old.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Finally, subtract eq(3) from eq(4). You will get\r\n" );
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document.write( "S = 43 - 31 = 12.     ====> Sam is 12 years old.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Answer.  Sam is the youngest, and he is 12 years old.  Ben is  14 and Matt is 17 years old.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Check.   M + S = 17 + 12 = 29;\r\n" );
document.write( "         S + B = 12 + 14 = 26;\r\n" );
document.write( "         B + M = 14 + 17 = 31.\r\n" );
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\n" ); document.write( "To see many other problems, solved by the similar method, look into the lesson\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " - The tricks to solve some word problems with three and more unknowns using mental math\r
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