SOLUTION: Wade is 70 years younger than Alma. 4 years ago, Alma's age was 3 times Wade's age. How old is Wade now?

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Question 1170659: Wade is 70 years younger than Alma. 4 years ago, Alma's age was 3 times Wade's age. How old is Wade now?
Found 3 solutions by josgarithmetic, ikleyn, greenestamps:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39616) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
First sentence also means Alma is 70 years older than Wade.

w, Wade
w+70, Alma
%28w%2B70%29-4=3%28w-4%29
-
w%2B66=3w-12
2w=66%2B12
w=33%2B6
highlight%28w=39%29

Answer by ikleyn(52776) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

            The solution and the answer by  @josgarithmetic  (w = 27)  are incorrect.

            So  I  came to bring the correct solution with the correct answer. 


w,    Wade age
w+70, Alma age


The base equation is

    %28w%2B70%29-4=3%28w-4%29



Simplify and solve

    w+66 = 3w-12

    2w = 66 + 12

    2w = 78

    w = 78/2 = 39.


ANSWER.  Wade is 39 years old now.

Solved.



Answer by greenestamps(13198) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Here is a way to solve the problem that is much different than the usual algebraic method shown by the other tutors. Both solution methods are fine; I personally prefer this method because it gets me to the answer faster, using easier calculations.

When Alma's age was 3 times Wade's age, their ages could be represented with x and 3x; making the difference between their ages 2x.

The difference between their ages is (and always will be) 70 years; so 2x=70 and x=35.

So their ages when Alma was 3 times as old as Wade were 3x=105 and x=35.

That was 4 years ago, so their ages now are 105+4=109 and 35+4=39.

ANSWER: Wade is now 39.