Question 916528
Jim is 6 years older than Kathy.
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Jim's age = Kathy's age plus 6

Jim's age = K+6

where K = Kathy's age
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Together, their ages... 
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"Together" means to add their ages:

Jim's age PLUS Kathy's age.

Jim's age = K+6
Kathy's age = K

So Jim's age PLUS Kathy's age is (K+6) + K
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...equal four times Kathy's age.
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Since four times Kathy's age is 4K, we have

(K+6) + K = 4K

That's the equation.  You can solve it, to find K, then
since
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Jim is 6 years older than Kathy.
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You'll just add 6 to Kathy's age to find Jim's age.

Analyze all your word problems this way.

Edwin</pre>