SOLUTION: Tanya is 18 years old. Her brother Shawn is 16 years younger.How old will Tanya be when she is 3 times as old as Shawn?

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Age -> SOLUTION: Tanya is 18 years old. Her brother Shawn is 16 years younger.How old will Tanya be when she is 3 times as old as Shawn?      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


   



Question 1126078: Tanya is 18 years old. Her brother Shawn is 16 years younger.How old will
Tanya be when she is 3 times as old as Shawn?

Answer by greenestamps(13200) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
When Tanya is 3 times as old as Shawn, the difference in their ages will be twice Shawn's age. Since the difference in their ages is now, and will always be, 16 years, that will happen when Shawn is 16/2 = 8; at that time Tanya will be 8*3 = 24 years old.

Algebraically....

Tanya is now 18 and Shawn is 2; in x years Tanya will be 3 times as old as Shawn:

18%2Bx+=+3%282%2Bx%29
18%2Bx+=+6%2B3x
12+=+2x
x+=+6

ANSWER: Tanya will be 18+6 = 24 when she is 3 times as old as Shawn.