SOLUTION: Fred is 4 years older than barney, five years ago the sum of their age was 48, how old are they now, please use F for fred and B for barney, thank you

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Question 271038: Fred is 4 years older than barney, five years ago the sum of their age was 48, how old are they now, please use F for fred and B for barney, thank you
Found 3 solutions by Earlsdon, josmiceli, stanbon:
Answer by Earlsdon(6294) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
F = B+4
(F-5)+(B-5) = 48 Substitute F = B+4
(B+4-5)+(b-5) = 48 Simplify.
2B-6 = 48 Add 6 to both sides.
2B = 54 Divide both sides by 2.
B = 27 and...
F = B+4
F = 27+4
F = 31

Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
f = Fred's age now
b = Barney's age now
f+-+5 = Fred's age 5 years ago
b+-+5 = Barney's age 5 years ago
given:
(1) f+=+b+%2B+4
(2) %28f+-+5%29+%2B+%28b+-+5%29+=+48
----------------------------
Substitute (1) in (2)
(2) %28b+%2B+4+-+5%29+%2B+%28b+-+5%29+=+48
b+%2B+b+-+6+=+48
2b+=+54
b+=+27
from (1),
f+=+b+%2B+4
f+=+27+%2B+4
f+=+31
barney is 27 and Fred is 31
check:
(2) %28f+-+5%29+%2B+%28b+-+5%29+=+48
(2) 31+-+5+%2B+27+-+5+=+48
(2) 26+%2B+22+=+48
48+=+48
OK

Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Fred is 4 years older than barney, five years ago the sum of their age was 48, how old are they now, please use F for fred and B for barney,
-----------------
Equations:
F = B + 4
(F-5) + (B-5) = 48
----
F = B + 4
F + B = 58
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Substitute for "F" and solve for "B":
B+4+B = 58
2B = 54
B = 27 yrs (barney's age now)
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Since F = B+4, F = 31 yrs (fred's age now)
=============================================
Cheers,
Stan H.