Question

The ages of 3 brothers are represented by consecutive integers. If the oldest brothers age is decreased by twice the youngest brother age the result is -19. How old is the youngest brother

Answer 1

The youngest brother's age is 21 years.

Explanation:

Given:

The ages of 3 brothers are consecutive integers.

If the oldest brothers age is decreased by twice the youngest brother age the result is -19

To find the age of the youngest brother.

Solution:

Let the age of youngest broth be =
`x` years

The ages are consecutive integers.

So, age of the next older brother will be =
`(x+1)` years

The age of the oldest brother will be =
`(x+2)` years

The oldest brothers age is decreased by twice the youngest brother age.

The above statement can be represented as:

⇒
`(x+2)-2x`

Simplifying.

⇒
`x-2x+2`

⇒
`-x+2`

The result for the above expression = -19.

So, we have:

`-x+2=-19`

Subtracting both sides by 2.

`-x+2-2=-19-2`

`-x=-21`

Multiplying both sides by -1.

∴
`x=21`

Thus, the youngest brother's age is 21 years