SOLUTION: Leah is 6 years older than her sister Sue and John is 5 years older than Leah and the total of their ages is 41. How old is Sue?

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Question 152588: Leah is 6 years older than her sister Sue and John is 5 years older than Leah and the total of their ages is 41. How old is Sue?
Answer by jojo14344(1513) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let's make X=age for all reference.
1st condition:
Sue=X%28years%29, Sue's age
Leah=X%2B6%28years%29, leah being 6 years older than Sue
2nd condition:
John=X%2B6%2B5%28years%29, John being 5 years older than Leah
Equating to totasl age:
x%2Bx%2B6%2Bx%2B6%2B5=41years --------> working eqn
3x=41-6-6-5
3x=24 -------------> cross%283%29x%2Fcross%283%29=cross%2824%298%2Fcross%283%29
x=8 years old (Sue)
Leah= 8%2B6=14, 6 years older than Sue
John= 8%2B6%2B5=19, 5 years older than Leah
In doubt? go back to our condition & working eqn.
8%2B8%2B6%2B8%2B6%2B5=41
41=41
Thank you,
Jojo