Question

Maggie's brother is 3 years younger than four times her age. The sum of their ages is 62. How old is Maggie? Maggie is years old.

Answer 1

Maggie is 13 years old.

Explanation:

1M + 1B = 62

rearrange to get:

1B = 62 - 1M

4M - 3 = 1B

substitute B with 62 - 1M so there is only one variable. this gives:

4M - 3 = 62 - 1M

Get all the variables on one side:

4M + 1M - 3 = 62

Get all non variables on the other side:

4M + 1M = 62 + 3

simplify:

5M = 65

Divide both sides by 5 to get the M by itself:

M = 13.

BONUS:

M + B = 62

B = 49

So her brother is 49 years old.

Maggie is 13 years old.