SOLUTION: Brenda is 4 years older than walter, and carol is twice as old as brenda. three years ago, the sum of their ages was 35. How old is each now?

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Question 1035332: Brenda is 4 years older than walter, and carol is twice as old as brenda. three years ago, the sum of their ages was 35. How old is each now?
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
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Brenda is 4 years older than walter, and carol is twice as old as brenda. three years ago, the sum of their ages was 35. How old is each now?
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b = w + 4
c = 2b
b-3 + w-3 + c-3 = 35
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Simplify to one variable::
b-3 + (b-4-3) + 2b-3 = 35
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Solve for "b"::
4b -13 = 35
4b = 48
b = 12 (Brenda's age)
c = 2b = 24 (Carol's age)
w = b-4 = 8 (Walter's age)
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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