Question

26) Hailey is 3 times as old as Maverick.

The sum of their ages is 48 years. How
old is Maverick?

Answer 1

Maverick is 12 years old. I used the equation (3x)+x=48. X represents Mavericks age.
I plugged in a random number for x until the equation equaled 48.

Answer 2

Let H = Hailey's age and M = Maverick

Hailey is 3 times as old as Maverick: H = 3M

The sum of their ages is 48 years: H + M = 48

Since H = 3M, substitute 3M in place of H in the second equation:

H + M = 48

3M + M = 48

4M = 48

M = 12

Maverick is 12 years old. Hailey = 3M = 3(12) = 36 years old.