Question 1183180: Aaron is 16 years younger than Angela. 8 years ago, Angela's age was 2 times Aaron's age. How old is Aaron now? Found 2 solutions by greenestamps, josgarithmetic:Answer by greenestamps(13200) (Show Source):
If Angela is 16 years older than Aaron, then she was twice as old as him when their ages were 32 and 16.
Since that was 8 years ago, their ages now are 40 and 24.
ANSWER: 24
For one way to set up and solve the problem using formal algebra....
let x = Aaron's age now
then x+16 = Angela's age now
x-8 = Aaron's age 8 years ago
(x+16)-8 = x+8 = Angela's age 8 years ago
8 years ago, Angela's age was twice Aaron's age:
ANSWER: Aaron's age now is x=24
Here is another formal algebraic solution that is like the informal solution above.
Let x = Aaron's age 8 years ago
Then 2x = Angela's age 8 years ago
The difference in their ages is 16 years:
Aaron's age 8 years ago was x=16
Aaron's age now is 16+8=24
Of the two algebraic solutions above, I personally prefer the latter, because the actual algebra is simpler.
Look at both formal solutions, and at any others you might get in responses from other tutors, and find what "works" best for you.
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