Question 1144356
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Let *[tex \Large r] represent Robert's age.  Kevin is 9 years younger, so Kevin must be *[tex \Large r\ -\ 9] years old, and Monica is 4 years younger than that, so Monica must be *[tex \Large r\ -\ 13].


*[tex \LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ r\ +\ (r\ -\ 9)\ +\ (r\ -\ 13)\ =\ 37]


Solve  for *[tex \Large r],  then calculate *[tex \Large r\ -\ 9] and *[tex \Large r\ -\ 13].  Note, the answer is NOT an even number of years, so you can either express your answers as mixed numbers, an integer numbers of months, or as years and months.  HINT: *[tex \Large \frac{1}{3}] of a year is 4 months.


Other tutors have asserted that this a faulty question because there are no integer solutions.  While it is true that most questions of this type DO have integer solutions, there is nothing whatsoever in the question that demands such a result.  A mixed number (*[tex \Large 19\frac{2}{3}] years), an integer number of months (59 months), or an answer expressed as years and months (19 years 8 months), are all perfectly valid ways to express the answer to this problem.  Lesson for both the student and the other tutors:  NEVER make unwarranted assumptions.
								
								
John
*[tex \LARGE e^{i\pi}\ +\ 1\ =\ 0]
My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
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