Question 536667
"Serena's father is twenty-six years older than serena. In ten years, the sum of the ages will be eighty. What are their present ages?"


x = Serena's age now
x + 26 = father's age now


x + 10 = Serena's age in 10 years
x + 36 = father's age in 10 years {added 10 on to each one}


x + 10 + x + 36 = 80 {in ten years the sum of the ages will be 80}
2x + 46 = 80 {combined like terms}
2x = 34 {subtracted 46 from both sides}
x = 17 {divided both sides by 2}
x + 26 = 43 {substituted 17, in for x, into x + 26}


Serena is 17
her father is 43
<br>For more help from me, visit: <a href = "http://www.algebrahouse.com/" target = "_blank">www.algebrahouse.com</a><br><br><br>