SOLUTION: Ryan was born 6 and one-fourth years after Alexander. the sum of there ages is 66 and eleven- twelfth years. how old is Alexander. I don't quite understand this problem co

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Question 615985: Ryan was born 6 and one-fourth years after Alexander. the sum of there ages is 66 and eleven- twelfth years. how old is Alexander.
I don't quite understand this problem could you please help me.

Found 2 solutions by JBarnum, dragonwalker:
Answer by JBarnum(2146) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
ryan=r alexander=a
r=6.25+a
r+a=66+(11/12)
best way to go about this is to put everything in to fractions and have the denom be 12
r=6 and (1/4)= 6 and (3/12)= (75/12)

r+a=66 and(11/12)= (803/12)

substitute for r
now id multiply by 12
subtract 75
divide by 24

r=
weird problem

Answer by dragonwalker(73) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Just think of it simpler terms. As we don't know the age of Ryan, but we know he is younger than Alexander.
How much older is Alexander? 6 1/4 !!
So let's say Alexander is 'a' years old.
This makes Ryan (a - 6 1/4)

If the age of Ryan and Alexander together is 66 11/12 then you can write it as follows:
Ryan's age + Alexander's age = 66 11/12
(a - 6 1/4) + a = 66 11/12
Solve for a to find Alexander's age:
a - 6 1/4 + a = 66 11/12
2a - 6 1/4 = 66 11/12
2a = 66 11/12 + 6 1/4
give the fractions a common denominator (in this case 12 as both denominators go into 12) - I assume if you are doing algebra you already know how to do this. Sorry if you don't. If not you can message me and I can add it in the answer)
so:
2a = 66 11/12 + 6 3/12
2a = 73 2/12
2a = 73 1/6
a = 36 7/12

So Alexander is 36 7/12 years old
You can check to make sure it is correct by calculating Ryan's age:
= 36 7/12 - 6 1/4)
= 30 4/12
= 30 1/3
Add this to Alexander's age = 30 1/3 + 36 7/12
= 66 11/12 !!!!