Question 934947
x = Austin's age
x - 4 = James' age


3(x - 4) + x² = 28 {three times James' age is increased by the square of Austin's, result is 28}
3x - 12 + x² = 28 {used distributive property}
x² + 3x - 40 = 0 {subtracted 28 from each side}
(x + 8)(x - 5) = 0 {factored into two binomials}
x + 8 = 0 or x - 5 = 0 {set each factor equal to 0}
x = -8 or x = 5 {solved each equation for x}
x = 5 {age cannot be negative}
x - 4 = 1 {substituted 5, in for x, into x - 4}


Austin is 5 and James is 1
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