document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1151157>Question 1151157</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Paul is 12 years older than Colin. Caroline is 3 years younger than Colin. If the total of their ages is 87, how old is the youngest of them?<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #772788 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><B>jim_thompson5910(35256)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><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=772788\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <font face=\"times\" color=\"black\" size=\"3\"><BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = Paul's current age<BR>\n" );
document.write( "y = Colin's current age<BR>\n" );
document.write( "z = Caroline's current age\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x = y+12 because Paul is 12 yrs older than Colin<BR>\n" );
document.write( "z = y-3 because Caroline is 3 yrs younger than Colin\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Solve x = y+12 for y<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = y+12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "y+12 = x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "y+12-12 = x-12 ... subtract 12 from both sides<BR>\n" );
document.write( "y = x-12\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Substitute that into z = y-3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "z = y-3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "z = x-12-3 ... replace y with x-12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "z = x-15<BR>\n" );
document.write( "This tells us Caroline is 15 years younger than Paul.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The three ages add to 87<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+y+z = 87<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+x-12+z = 87 ... plug in y = x-12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+x-12+x-15 = 87  ... plug in z = x-15<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3x-27 = 87 <BR>\n" );
document.write( "3x-27+27 = 87+27 ... add 27 to both sides<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3x = 114<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3x/3 = 114/3 ... divide both sides by 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 38<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Paul is 38 years old currently.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Use this to find the value of y.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "y = x-12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "y = 38-12 ... plug in x = 38<BR>\n" );
document.write( "y = 26<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Colin is currently 26 years old.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Use the same x value to find the value of z.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "z = x-15<BR>\n" );
document.write( "z = 38-15 ... plug in x = 38<BR>\n" );
document.write( "z = 23<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Caronline is currently 23 years old. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Alternatively, you can use the value of y to find the value of z.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "z = y - 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "z = 26 - 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "z = 23\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "To summarize,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Paul is 38 years old<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Colin is 26 years old<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Caroline is 23 years old\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Answer: The youngest (Caroline) is <font color=red size=4>23 years old</font>\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Check:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+y+z = 87<BR>\n" );
document.write( "38+26+23 = 87<BR>\n" );
document.write( "64+23 = 87<BR>\n" );
document.write( "87 = 87<BR>\n" );
document.write( "We get a true equation, so the answer is confirmed.<BR>\n" );
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