SOLUTION: Sandy's mother's age is now four times Sandy's age. Five years from now, Sandy's age will be one third of his mother's age. How old is Sandy now?

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Question 1141880: Sandy's mother's age is now four times Sandy's age. Five years from now, Sandy's age will be one third of his mother's age. How old is Sandy now?

Found 2 solutions by Theo, josgarithmetic:
Answer by Theo(13342) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
m = sandy's mother's age
s = sandy's age.

m = 4 * s

in 5 years, sandy will be 1/3 her mother's age.

s + 5 = 1/3 * (m + 5)

since m = 4 * s in the first equation, replace m with 4 * s in the second equation to get:

s + 5 = 1/3 * (4 * s + 5)

multiply both sides of this equation by 3 to get:

3 * (s + 5) = 4 * s + 5

simplify to get:

3 * s + 15 = 4 * s + 5

subtract 3 * s from both sides of this equation and subtract 5 from both sides of this equation to get:

10 = s

that's sandra's age now.

her mother's age now is 4 * 10 = 40

5 years from now, sandra will be 15 and her mother will be 45.

her mother is 4 times sandra's age now (40 / 10 = 4)

her mother will be 3 times sandra'a age in 5 years (45 / 15 = 3)

when her mother's age is 3 times sandra's age, sandra's age will be 1/3 * her mother's age.

that's because m = 3 * s in 5 years.
divide both sides of that equation by 3 to get m/3 = s
if her mother's age is 3 times sandra's age, than sandra's age is 1/3 time her mother's age.

your solution is that sandra's age now is 10 years old.




Answer by josgarithmetic(39620) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Ages x and m
4x=m

Main Description: x%2B5=%281%2F3%29%284x%2B5%29
3x%2B15=4x%2B5
15-5=x
highlight%28x=10%29------Sandy, now