SOLUTION: Martha lived the first one-quarter of her life unmarried, the next one-half of her life in her first marriage, the next one-sixth of her life in her second marriage, and her final

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Question 859316: Martha lived the first one-quarter of her life unmarried, the next one-half of her life in her first marriage, the next one-sixth of her life in her second marriage, and her final 8 years as a widow. how old was she when she died?
solution is 96. i need you to workout? :)
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
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Martha lived the first one-quarter of her life unmarried, the next one-half of her life in her first marriage, the next one-sixth of her life in her second marriage, and her final 8 years as a widow.
how old was she when she died?
:
Let a = her age when she died
:
Write a equation for each statement
:
"Martha lived the first one-quarter of her life unmarried,
1%2F4a = unmarried yrs
:
the next one-half of her life in her first marriage,
1%2F2a = her first marriage yrs
:
the next one-sixth of her life in her second marriage,
1%2F6a = 2nd marriage yrs
:
and her final 8 years as a widow.
a = 1%2F4a + 1%2F2a + 1%2F6a + 8
common denominator is 12
a = 3%2F12a + 6%2F12 + 2%2F12a + 8
a = 11%2F12a + 8
a - 11%2F12a = 8
1%2F12a = 8
a = 12 * 8
a = 96 yrs