SOLUTION: Michael is 3 more than twice John’s age. In 3 years Michael will be 3 years older than John. What is age of both boys

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Question 1112608: Michael is 3 more than twice John’s age. In 3 years Michael will be 3 years older than John. What is age of both boys
Answer by ikleyn(52781) About Me  (Show Source):
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Michael is 3 more than twice John’s age. In 3 years Michael will be 3 years older than John. What is age of both boys
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I interpret your condition as 

    Michael highlight%28age%29 is 3 highlight%28years%29 more than twice John’s age. In 3 years Michael will be 3 years older than John. What is age of both boys

Solution 

If in 3 years M will be 3 years older than J, it means (at least, in frame of this problem) that M is ALWAYS 3 years older than J:


M = J + 3


So, what you have from the condition now, is THIS:


M = 2J + 3,   or

J+3 = 2J + 3  ====>  J = 2J  ====>  J = 0.

Since the answer J = 0 in age problems is equivalent to NONSENSE, the problem DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.

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The different interpretation of the condition is also possible: 

     Michael age is 5 times John’s age. In 3 years Michael will be 3 years older than John. What is age of both boys.

reading "3 more than twice" as "5 times".

But such interpretation is mocking a reader, therefore, I don't want to continue from this point . . .