Question

Jill, Meg and Beth are sisters Jill is 2 years younger than Meg Beth is half as old as meg Let m represent megs age Then write two other algebraic expressions based on the situation

Answer 1

2-1/2x=m

Explanation:

Jill:2

Beth:1/2x

Meg:m

Answer 2

• j = m-2
• b = m/2

Explanation:

The relationships described as "the situation" are ...

Jill is 2 year younger than Meg

Beth is half as old as Meg

The simplest sort of expressions to write are ones that express these relationships directly. If we let j and b represent Jill's and Beth's ages (in years), respectively, then ...

j = m - 2 . . . . . . . . Jill's age is 2 years less than Meg's age

b = m/2 . . . . . . . . . Beth's age is half Meg's age

_____

We could get more elaborate and write expressions like ...

m = j+2

j +b = (3/2)m -2

j = 2(b -1)