document.write( "Question 1145243: An older person is 5 years older than six times the age of a younger person. The sum of their ages is 26. Find their ages \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #766456 by greenestamps(13200) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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\n" ); document.write( "If the sum of their ages and one is more than 6 times as old as the other, then the age of the younger has to be a small number. So try some small numbers for the age of the younger.

\n" ); document.write( "younger age is 1 --> older age is 6(1)+5 = 11; 11+1 is not 26

\n" ); document.write( "younger age is 2 --> older age is 6(2)+5 = 17; 17+2 is not 26

\n" ); document.write( "younger age is 3 --> older age is 6(3)+5 = 23; 23+3 IS 26

\n" ); document.write( "ANSWER: their ages are 3 and 23

\n" ); document.write( "If you need an algebraic solution, just use a variable for the age of the younger and do the same thing as above, using that variable to form an equation:

\n" ); document.write( "younger age is x --> older age is 6(x)+5; the sum of their ages is x + 6(x)+5

\n" ); document.write( "Write an equation that says the sum of their ages is 26:

\n" ); document.write( " $\"%28x%29+%2B+%286x%2B5%29+=+26\"$

\n" ); document.write( "Solve using basic algebra....

\n" ); document.write( "Obviously, from the work shown earlier, your solution should be x=3, which then makes their ages 3 and 23.
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