SOLUTION: The sum of my age and my sons age is 50 last year I was three times as old as my son, what is my age this year? Hope you can answer

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Question 413452: The sum of my age and my sons age is 50 last year I was three times as old as my son, what is my age this year?
Hope you can answer

Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let a = my age now
Let s = my son's age now
a+-+1 = my age last year
s+-+1 = my son's age last year
given:
(1) a+%2B+s+=+50
(2) a+-+1+=+3%2A%28s+-+1%29
----------------------------
(2) a+-+1+=+3s+-+3
(2) a+-+3s+=+-2
Subtract (2) from (1)
(1) a+%2B+s+=+50
(2) -a+%2B+3s+=+2 (notice the signs change when I subtract)
4s+=+52
s+=+13
and, since
(1) a+%2B+s+=+50
a+=+50+-+13
a+=+37
I am 37 and my son is 13
check the answer:
(2) a+-+1+=+3%2A%28s+-+1%29
(2) 37+-+1+=+3%2A%2813+-+1%29
36+=+3%2A12
356+=+36
OK