Question

Jack was 14 years older than Priscilla. Together their ages totaled 158 years. What were their ages?

Answer 1

Jack is 86 years old,

and Priscilla is 72 years old

Explanation:

j = Jack

p = Priscilla

j - 14 = p $\Rightarrow$ j = p+14

j+p = 158

By subsituting the value of j ( first equation) into the second equation, we get:

p+14+p = 158

2p+14 = 158

2p = 144

p = 72.

So, j = 86

Answer 2

Jack's age: 86, Priscilla's age: 72

Explanation:

Priscilla's age can be called x, which makes Jack's x + 14. We know that their added ages total 158 years which means that x + x + 14 = 158, which means that 2x + 14 = 158. We can then solve this by subtracting 14 on both sides and getting 2x = 144. We can divide on both sides to get that x = 72. Since Priscilla's age is x and Jack's is x + 14, we already know Priscilla's age and we need to find Jacks by adding 14 to 72. 72 + 14 = 86, so Jack's age is 86.