SOLUTION: can someone please offer there intellegince? 16. Ricardo is 4 years less than twice as old as his sister. The sum of their ages is 20. How old is Ricardo? A) 8 B) 10 C) 12 D)

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Numbers -> SOLUTION: can someone please offer there intellegince? 16. Ricardo is 4 years less than twice as old as his sister. The sum of their ages is 20. How old is Ricardo? A) 8 B) 10 C) 12 D)       Log On

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Question 56905: can someone please offer there intellegince?
16. Ricardo is 4 years less than twice as old as his sister. The sum of their ages is 20. How old is Ricardo?
A) 8
B) 10
C) 12
D) 14
Answer by tutorcecilia(2152) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Translate from English to Math:
Ricardo is (equals) 4 years less than (subtract 4 years from) twice (Sister's age times 2) as old as his sister. The sum (addition) of their ages is (equals) 20. How old is Ricardo?
Ricardo = 2(Sister)-4 years=2S-4
Sister = S
The sum of their ages equals 20:
Ricardo + Sister = 20
(2S-4)+S=20 [Plug-in the values and solve for S]
2S-4+S=20
3S-4=20
3S=20+4
3S=24
S=24/3
S=8
So, the sister is 8 years old.
Ricardo is twice the age of his sister minus 4 years:
Ricardo = (2)(8)-4=16-4=12years old
The sum of their ages is 20:
Ricardo + Sister = 20
12+8=20 [checks out]