SOLUTION: Today Ella's uncle Andrew's age is four times Ella's age. In five years' time, Andrew will be three times Ella's age. How old is Ella today?

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Age -> SOLUTION: Today Ella's uncle Andrew's age is four times Ella's age. In five years' time, Andrew will be three times Ella's age. How old is Ella today?       Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


    

Question 1177718: Today Ella's uncle Andrew's age is four times Ella's age. In five years' time, Andrew will be three times Ella's age. How old is Ella today?
Answer by MathLover1(20850) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

let Andrew's age be A and Ella's age E
if today Ella's uncle Andrew's age is four+times Ella's age, we have
A=4E.....eq.1
if in 5 years' time, Andrew will be three+times Ella's age, we have
A%2B5=3%28E%2B5%29.....eq.2.....solve for A
A%2B5=3E%2B15
A=3E%2B15-5
A=3E%2B10...........eq.2a
from eq.1 and eq.2a we have
4E=3E%2B10.....solve for E
4E-3E=10
E=10=> Ella is 10 years old today
go to
A=3E%2B10...........eq.2a, substitute E
A=3%2A10%2B10
A=40=> Andrew is 40 years old today