Question 954238
Situation 1: Woman's age is three times more than twice son's age:
W=woman's age; S=son's age
W=6S
W+S=84 Substitute for W
6S+S=84
7S=84 Divide each side by 7
S=12 ANSWER 1: The son's age is 12.
W=6S=6(12)=72 ANSWER 2: The woman is 72.
'
Situation 2: Woman's age is three more than twice son's age:
W=2S+3
W+S=84 Substitute for W
2S+3+S=84 Subtract 3 from each side.
3S=81 Divide each side by 3
S=37 ANSWER 1: The son's age is 37.
W=2S+3=2(27)+3=54+3=57 ANSWER 2: The woman's age is 57.
The wording "Three times more than twice her son's age" seems odd for this type of question, so I worked out a more common way, too. (See Situation 2)