Question 1145243: An older person is 5 years older than six times the age of a younger person. The sum of their ages is 26. Find their ages Answer by greenestamps(13200) (Show Source):
If the sum of their ages and one is more than 6 times as old as the other, then the age of the younger has to be a small number. So try some small numbers for the age of the younger.
younger age is 1 --> older age is 6(1)+5 = 11; 11+1 is not 26
younger age is 2 --> older age is 6(2)+5 = 17; 17+2 is not 26
younger age is 3 --> older age is 6(3)+5 = 23; 23+3 IS 26
ANSWER: their ages are 3 and 23
If you need an algebraic solution, just use a variable for the age of the younger and do the same thing as above, using that variable to form an equation:
younger age is x --> older age is 6(x)+5; the sum of their ages is x + 6(x)+5
Write an equation that says the sum of their ages is 26:
Solve using basic algebra....
Obviously, from the work shown earlier, your solution should be x=3, which then makes their ages 3 and 23.
