SOLUTION: Please help me to solve this problem . the sum of the ages of two children is 16 years . four years ago the age of the older child was three times the age of the younger child. fin

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Question 903598: Please help me to solve this problem . the sum of the ages of two children is 16 years . four years ago the age of the older child was three times the age of the younger child. find the present age of each child
Answer by JulietG(1812) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A + B = 16
(A-4) = 3(B-4)
Distribute
(A-4) = 3B-12
Add 4 to each side
A = 3B - 8
Substitute the value of A that you just calculated into the top equation.
A + B = 16
(3B-8) + B = 16
4B-8 = 16
Add 8 to each side
4B = 24
Divide each side by 4
B = 6
If the younger child is 6, then the older is 10 (16-6)

Prove it:
four years ago the age of the older child (10-4=6) was three times the age of the younger child (6-4=2)
6 = 3x 2