Question 267975
john spent a quarter of his life growing up as a boy,
 1/6 of his life in college and 1/2 of his life as a teacher.
He spent his last six years in retirement.
 How old was he when he died?
:
let a = his age when he died
:
Age = boy + student + teacher + retired
a = {{{1/4}}}a + {{{1/6}}}a + {{{1/2}}}a + 6
Multiply by 12 to get rid of the denominators, results
12a = 3a + 2a + 6a + 12(6)
12a = 11a + 72
12a - 11a = 72
a = 72 his age when he passed away, much missed and remembered, I am sure.