SOLUTION: The sum of the ages of Art, Ben, and Cal is 59. Art is 1 year older than Cal, Cal is 1 year younger than Ben. Which of these people were teenagers 7 years ago?

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Question 150905: The sum of the ages of Art, Ben, and Cal is 59. Art is 1 year older than Cal, Cal is 1 year younger than Ben. Which of these people were teenagers 7 years ago?
Found 2 solutions by ankor@dixie-net.com, mangopeeler07:
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Write an equation for each statement:
:
"The sum of the ages of Art, Ben, and Cal is 59."
a + b + c = 59
:
"Art is 1 year older than Cal,"
a = c + 1
:
"Cal is 1 year younger than Ben."
c = b - 1
or
b = c + 1
;
Substitute for a and b and find in the total age equation, find c
(c+1) + (c+1) + c = 59
3c + 2 = 59
3c = 59 - 2
c = 57%2F3
c = 19 yrs
:
a = 20; b = 20
:
Which of these people were teenagers 7 years ago?
:
c would be 12, a & b would be teenagers

Answer by mangopeeler07(462) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Art=a
Ben=b
Cal=c

a=b
a=c+1

c+1+c+1+c=59
3c+2=59
3c=57
c=19

Cal is a teen now. Subtract 7.
19-7=12

Cal was 12
Art was 13
Ben was 13

Art and Ben were teenagers 7 years ago.