Question 527787
Let a = age of oldest brother today
Let b = age of middle brother today
Let c = age of youngest brother today
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The ages are consecutive even integers means:
a = b + 2
a = c + 4
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though it seems like we have 3 unknowns, which would require at least three equations to solve it, because of the relationship between a, b, and c (e.g., a = c + 4), we can consider this a system of two equations with two unknowns:
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3c = a + 48
a = c + 4
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if we substitute a from the 2nd equation into the first, we have one equation with one unknown, which is easily solved:
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3c = (c + 4) + 48, which simplifies to:
3c = c + 52
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By subtracting c from both sides, we have:
2c = 52, or:
c = 26
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Going back to our original relationships, we recall:
a = c + 4
b = c + 2
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so substituting c = 26 into both equations, we have:
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a = 30, b = 28, c = 26
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checking our work:
3(26) = (30) + 48
78 = 78 checks
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cheers,
Lee