SOLUTION: I have been trying to solve this age problem: A boy's sister is 3 years younger than him. His father is 26 years older than the boy. Four years ago the father's age was 3 times the

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Question 986433: I have been trying to solve this age problem: A boy's sister is 3 years younger than him. His father is 26 years older than the boy. Four years ago the father's age was 3 times the sum of the two children's age. Find the present ages of the father and his children.
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, MathTherapy:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
b boy
s sister
f father
s=b-3; f=b%2B26;

Four years ago
f-4=3%28s-4%2Bb-4%29;

Three equations in three unknowns. Do you know what to do now?

Answer by MathTherapy(10552) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

I have been trying to solve this age problem: A boy's sister is 3 years younger than him. His father is 26 years older than the boy. Four years ago the father's age was 3 times the sum of the two children's age. Find the present ages of the father and his children. 
Let boy's current age be B

Then sister's is: B - 3

Father's is: B + 26

We then get: 

B + 26 - 4 = 3(B - 4 + B - 3 - 4)

B + 22 = 3(2B - 11)

B + 22 = 6B - 33

B - 6B = - 33 - 22

- 5B = - 55

B, or boy's current age = %28-+55%29%2F%28-+5%29, or highlight_green%2811%29

You should now be able to find the sister's and the father's ages.