Question 1151469
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E = Ed's current age
C = Carl's current age
F = their father's current age


"Ed is 5 years older than Carl", so,
E = C+5


"Their father is 6 times as old as Carl", so,
F = 6*C


We will use those two equations in the next upcoming equation.


"The sum of their (Ed and Carl) ages and their father's age is 61 years", so,
E+C+F = 61
C+5+C+F = 61 ..... plug in E = C+5
C+5+C+6C = 61 .... plug in F = 6C
8C+5 = 61
8C+5-5 = 61-5 .... subtract 5 from both sides
8C = 56
8C/8 = 56/8 ...... divide both sides by 8
C = 7
<font color=red size=4>Carl is currently 7 years old.</font>


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Extra info:


Once we know how old Carl currently is, we can use his age to find the other two current ages.


E = C+5
E = 7+5
E = 12
Ed is currently 12 years old.


F = 6*C
F = 6*7
F = 42
Their father is currently 42 years old.


Check:
E+C+F = 7+12+42 = 19+42 = 61
So the answer checks out.
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