SOLUTION: Jason is 6 years older than his sister. Their mother is years older than the sum of their ages. If their mother is 39, how old is Jason?

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Question 837543: Jason is 6 years older than his sister. Their mother is years older than the sum of their ages. If their mother is 39, how old is Jason?
Answer by mxgirl22(39) About Me  (Show Source):
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Jason is 6 years older than his sister. Their mother is years older than the sum of their ages. If their mother is 39, how old is Jason?
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1.) Get information for problem.
Let j=Jason
Let s=sister
Read first sentence-
Jason is 6 years older than his sister.

So we can say: j=s+6

Read the second sentence-
Their mother is the sum(+) of their ages.

So from there we could say: j+s=Mothers age

Read the third sentence-
If their mother is 39...
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2nd.) Now we know how to set up the equation:
It should be-

(s+6)+s=39
2s+6=39
2s+6-6=39-6
2s=33
2s/2=33/2
s=16.5 <----------------Sisters age

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3rd.) From step 1, we know since Jason is 6 years older than his sister we are going to add. Use the value we got for his sisters age in step 2.


j=s+6
j=16.5+6
j=22.5 <---------------Jasons age

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4th.) Just to check.
Jasons age+Sisters Age=Mothers age


j+s=mothers age
(22.5)+(16.5)=39
39=39
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Jason is 22.5 years old.