SOLUTION: ray is 15 years older than sam and sam is 12 years younger than bert. Their ages total 42 years. how old are they all

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Question 1036311: ray is 15 years older than sam and sam is 12 years younger than bert. Their ages total 42 years. how old are they all
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
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ray is 15 years older than sam and sam is 12 years younger than bert. Their ages total 42 years. how old are they all
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Equations:
r = s + 15
s = b-12
r + s = b = 42
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Substitute for "r" and for "b" and solve for "s"::
s+15 + s + s+12 = 42
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3s = 42-27
3s = 15
sam = 5 yrs
ray = s+15 = 20 yrs
bert = s+12 = 17 yrs
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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