Question 1067921
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<pre>
M = 3S,                (1)   ("A man is 3 times as old as his son")
(M-4) + (S-4) = 60.    (2)   ("Four years ago . . . ")


--->  substitute (1) into (2), simplify and solve for S, the son's age.


3S- 4 + S - 4 = 60,

4S - 8 = 60  --->  4S = 68  --->  S = {{{68/4}}} = 17.


<U>Answer</U>.  The son is 17. The man is 51 years old now.
</pre>

There is a bunch of lessons on age word problems 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/word/age/Age-problems-and-their-solutions.lesson>Age problems and their solutions</A>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/word/age/Fresh-formulation-of-a-traditional-age-problem.lesson>A fresh formulation of a traditional age problem</A>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/word/age/Really-intricate-age-word-problem.lesson>Really intricate age word problem</A>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/word/age/Selected-age-word-problems-from-the-archive.lesson>Selected age word problems from the archive</A>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/word/age/04-OVERVIEW-of-lessons-on-age-problems.lesson>OVERVIEW of lessons on age problems</A>

in this site.


Read them and become an expert in solving age problems.


Also, you have this free of charge online textbook in ALGEBRA-I in this site

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- <A HREF=https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/quadratic/lessons/ALGEBRA-I-YOUR-ONLINE-TEXTBOOK.lesson>ALGEBRA-I - YOUR ONLINE TEXTBOOK</A>.


The referred lessons are the part of this online textbook under the topic "<U>Age word problems</U>".