Question 144256
john is 3 times the age his son will be next year. his wife is 20 years older than her son is this year. there combined ages total 71. how old is each person. 
:
Let their present ages be j, s, w
:
"john is 3 times the age his son will be next year."
j = 3(s+1)
:
"his wife is 20 years older than her son is this year."
w = (s + 20)
:
 "there combined ages total 71" (I think they mean the combined ages of John and his wife only)
j + w = 71
:
how old is each person.
:
substitute for j and w:
3(s+1) + (s+20) = 71
:
3s + 3 + s + 20 = 71
:
4s + 23 = 71
:
4s = 71 - 23
s = {{{48/4}}}
s = 12
:
j = 3(13) = 39
w = 12+20 = 32
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total age = 71
:
A rather ambiguous problem