SOLUTION: Aunt Samantha Is three times as old as her son Fred. Together their ages add up to 48. How old are they each? Solve using variables in an equation with the system of elimination o

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Question 1153677: Aunt Samantha Is three times as old as her son Fred. Together their ages add up to 48. How old are they each? Solve using variables in an equation with the system of elimination or substitution.
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +a+ = Aunt S's age
Let +b+ = Fred's age
-----------------------------------
(1) +a+=+3b+
(2) +a+%2B+b+=+48+
Substitute (1) into (2)
(2) +3b+%2B+b+=+48+
(2) +4b+=+48+
(2) +b+=+12+
Plug this result back into (2)
(2) +a+%2B+b+=+48+
(2) +a+%2B+12+=+48+
(2) +a+=+36+
Aunt Samantha is 36
Fred is 12