Question 1041077
<pre>
Father's Age              y
A Son's Age               b
The Other Son's Age       s
</pre>
Follow the written description closely and translate into equations.


{{{system(y=3(b+s),s=2b,(b+12)+(s+12)=(3/4)(y+12))}}}


Solve the system.  FORMING the system of equations is the biggest part of the solution to the given problem description.


{{{y=3(b+2b)}}}
{{{y=9b}}}
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{{{b+s+24=(3/4)(y+12)}}}
{{{4b+4s+72=3y+36}}}
{{{4b+4s+36=3y}}}
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{{{4b+4*2b+36=3y}}}
{{{12b+36=3y}}}
{{{4b+12=y}}}
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Simpler System,  {{{system(4b+12=y,y=9b)}}}
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Simple substitution for y,  OR simply equating expressions for y,
{{{4b+12=9b}}}
{{{12=5b}}}
{{{b=12/5=2&2/5}}}-----------this suggests that I made a mistake, because we usually expect Natural numbers for this kinds of age description exercises.  You can keep working with it, or recheck my steps.