SOLUTION: the sum of ages of a man,his wife and his son is 85 years. the man is 5 years less than the sum of the ages of his wife and son. before his son was born the man was 6/5 as old as h

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Question 931197: the sum of ages of a man,his wife and his son is 85 years. the man is 5 years less than the sum of the ages of his wife and son. before his son was born the man was 6/5 as old as his wife. find the age of the wife
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
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the sum of ages of a man,his wife and his son is 85 years. the man is 5 years less than the sum of the ages of his wife and son. before his son was born the man was 6/5 as old as his wife. find the age of the wife
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Equations:
m + w + s = 85
m = w + s - 5
m = (6/5)w
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Using the 1st 2 equations:
m + w + s = 85
m - w - s = -5
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2m = 80
m = 40 (the man's age is 40 but we don't kow when)
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When the son was 0, m = (6/5)w
w = (5/6)40
w = 200/6 = 33 1/3 (wife's age at time of son's birth if the father was 40)
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Comment:: Too many "ifs" in this question.
Cheers,
Stan H.
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