Question 767001
A man's age is three times his son's age. Ten years ago he was five times his son's age. By forming two equations and solving them simultaneously, find both of their ages.
:
Write an equation for each statement
:
"A man's age is three times his son's age."
m = 3s
or
m - 3s = 0
:
" Ten years ago he was five times his son's age."
m - 10 = 5(s-10)
m - 10 = 5s - 50
m - 5s = =-50 + 10
m - 5s = -40
:
solving them simultaneously
m - 3s = 0
m - 5s = -40
---------------Subtraction eliminates m, find s
0 + 2s = 40
s = 20 yrs is the son's age
I'll let you find the man's age