Question

Maggie's brother is 6 years younger than four times her age. The sum of their ages is

59.
How old is Maggie?
Maggie is
years old.

Answer 1

Maggie is 11 years old

Explanation:

let m be Maggie and b be her brother.

`m+b=59`

`b=4m-6`

substitute for b.

`m+4m-6=59`

`5m-6=59`

add 6 to both sides

`5m=55`

divide by 5 on both sides

`m=11`

double check by finding the brother's age by substituting for m

`11+b=59`

`b=48`