SOLUTION: The paint is 21 years newer that the brush. The paint is also one fourth as old as the brush. How old is each one?

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Question 348737: The paint is 21 years newer that the brush. The paint is also one fourth as old as the brush. How old is each one?
Answer by ptaylor(2198) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x=brush's age
then x-21=paint's age
So our equation to solve is:
x-21=(1/4)x multiply each term by 4
4x-84=x subtract 4x from each side
4x-4x-84=-4x+x collect like terms
-3x=-84
x=28 years old---age of the brush
x-21=28-21=7 years old---age of the paint
CK
28-7=21
21=21---ok
(1/4)*28=7
7=7---ok
Hope this helps------ptaylor