31.1k views
5 votes
Carol is 3 times as old as John today. Twenty years ago, Carol was five times as old as John. What is John's age?

User Sam Stern
by
8.1k points

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

To determine John's age, we create two equations based on the given information: C = 3J and C - 20 = 5(J - 20). Solving these equations algebraically reveals that John is 40 years old.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question presented involves solving an algebraic problem related to the ages of Carol and John. We need to establish two equations based on the information given:

Carol is 3 times as old as John today.

Twenty years ago, Carol was five times as old as John.

Let's define Carol's current age as C and John's current age as J.

From the first piece of information, we have the equation: C = 3J.

From the second piece of information, we can write: C - 20 = 5(J - 20).

Substitute the first equation into the second to have one equation with one unknown:

3J - 20 = 5J - 100

Now we solve for John's age:

100 - 20 = 5J - 3J

80 = 2J

J = 40

Therefore, John's current age is 40 years old.

User Arman Ordookhani
by
8.3k points

No related questions found

Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.

9.4m questions

12.2m answers

Categories