document.write( "Question 733673: steven is 6 years older than his sister claudia. The product of the ages of both siblings is 187.Find an equation and calculate the age of steven and claudia \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #852786 by ikleyn(53427) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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\n" ); document.write( "steven is 6 years older than his sister claudia. The product of the ages of both siblings
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document.write( "Let x be the sister's age.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Then Steven is (x+6) years old.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Write the product equation\r\n" );
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document.write( "   x*(x+6) = 187.\r\n" );
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document.write( "You can reduce it to quadratic equation and solve it via the quadratic formula.\r\n" );
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document.write( "But more intelligent way is to notice that in the number 187 the alternate sum\r\n" );
document.write( "of its digits, 1 - 8 + 7 = 0;  hence, 187 is divisible by 11.\r\n" );
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document.write( "It gives us 11 year for the age of the sister and 11+6 = 17 years for Steven.\r\n" );
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document.write( "ANSWER.  Claudia is 11 years old.  Steven is 17 years old.\r\n" );
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The solution by @lynnlo is incorrect.\r
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