Question 1100601
<br>Ally is 8 years older than Dan.
Dan is half Ken's age.<br>
For me, solving problems using algebra is easiest if I can set up the problem using only one variable.  Perhaps another tutor will see this problem and give a response showing a solution that uses 2 or even 3 variables for the three ages.  But for my solution I want to use only one variable.<br>
One of the given pieces of information tells the relationship between Ally's age and Dan's age; the other tells the relationship between Dan's age and Ken's age.
Since both pieces of information involve Dan's age, that is the logical choice for our variable.  So<br>
let x = Dan's age
then x+8 = Ally's age
and 2x = Ken's age  (Dan is half as old as Ken; so Ken is twice as old as Dan)<br>
All their ages add up to 44.
What are their ages?<br>
You have expressions in terms of a single variable for all three ages.  Write and solve the equation that says the sum of those expressions is 44:<br>
{{{x + x+8 + 2x = 44}}}<br>
I assume you can finish from there....