SOLUTION: The total age age of Lynn and Carol is 37. Lynn is five years older than Carol. Find their ages.

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Question 1171102: The total age age of Lynn and Carol is 37. Lynn is five years older than Carol. Find their ages.
Found 4 solutions by MathLover1, ikleyn, Alan3354, greenestamps:
Answer by MathLover1(20850) About Me  (Show Source):
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let age of Lynn be L and age of Carol C
if the total age age of Lynn and Carol is 37, we have
L%2BC=37....eq.1
if Lynn is five years older than Carol, we have
L=C%2B5.......eq.2, substitute in eq.1

C%2B5%2BC=37....eq.1
2C=37-5
2C=32
C=16
go to eq.2

L=C%2B5 substitute C
L=16%2B5
L=21

so, Lynn is 21 and Carol is 16


Answer by ikleyn(52802) About Me  (Show Source):
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.

    L     + C = 37

    (C+5) + C = 37

    2C        = 37 - 5

    2C        = 32

     C        = 32/2 = 16.


     L = C+5 = 16 + 5 = 21.


ANSWER.  Lynn is 21 years old.   Carol is 16 years old.

Solved.



Answer by Alan3354(69443) About Me  (Show Source):
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The total age age of Lynn and Carol is 37. Lynn is five years older than Carol. Find their ages.
------------------------------
L + C = 37
L - C = 5
============================= Add (or subtract)
Not sufficient for a PhD dissertation, or a Master's, IMO.

Answer by greenestamps(13200) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


There are dozens of simple algebraic approaches for setting up and solving this problem.

If a formal algebraic solution is not required, you can get some good problem-solving experience by solving the problem using logical reasoning and some simple arithmetic.

Maybe like this....

(1) Lie about Lynn's age by subtracting 5 years from her real age.
(2) That makes her age the same as Carol's; and the sum of their ages is now 37-5=32.
(3) Since they are now the same age and the sum of their ages is 32, each of them is 32/2=16.
(4) Now tell the truth by adding the 5 years back on to Lynn's age to find...

ANSWER: Carol is 16; Lynn is 16+5=21.