document.write( "Question 1200372: If my mum is twice as old as me. In six years, I will be three years older than half of my mum's age. How old am I? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #834492 by ikleyn(52807) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"highlight%28cross%28If%29%29\"$ my mum is twice as old as me.
\n" ); document.write( "In six years, I will be three years older than half of my mum's age. How old am I?
\n" ); document.write( "~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "

\r\n" );
document.write( "    If x is my age, then the mum age is 2x years.\r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "    In 6 years\r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "        x + 6 = 3 + .\r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "    This equation is, actually, an IDENTITY: it is valid for any value of x.\r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "    Therefore, it is IMPOSSIBLE to get a unique specific answer: any value of x is good.\r\n" );
document.write( "

\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "DIAGNOSIS. This problem is UNSOLVABLE: it can not be solved and can not be answered
\n" ); document.write( "in a reasonable way: any number is the solution. \r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "It has (INFINITELY) many solutions, which for such kind of problems is absurdist
\n" ); document.write( "(or, if you wish, is like a death sentence).\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "----------------\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Actually, this \" problem \" is a TRAP, and the only mathematical content in it is to discover that it is a trap.\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "

\n" );