Answer:
The sum of the ages of Mike and Jamal is 31
Explanation:
First we need to translate the questions into mathematical equation and then solve.
Let x be Jamal's age and y be Mike's age.
"Jamal's age is 3 more than 3 times Mike's age" can be written mathematically as;
x =3 + 3y ---------------------------------------------------------------(1)
"Mike's age is 17 years less than Jamal's age" can be written mathematically as ;
y = x - 17 -----------------------------------------------------------------(2)
Substitute equation (1) into equation (2)
y = 3 + 3y - 17
y = 3y - 14
subtract 3y from both-side of the equation
y - 3y = 3y - 3y - 14
-2y = -14
Divide both-side of the equation by -2
=
y = 7
Mike is 7 years old
Substitute y = 7 into equation (1)
x = 3 + 3y
= 3 + 3(7)
= 3+21
=24
Jamal is 24 years old
The sum of their ages is = x + y = 24 + 7 = 31
Therefore, The sum of the ages of Mike and Jamal is 31