Question

In 1993, Mary was twice Ben's age. In 2000, she was 7 years older than Ben. How old is Ben in 2004?

Answer 1

Use x to denote Ben's age in 1993. Can you express Mary's age in 1993 in terms of x? Mary's age in 2000? Ben's age in 2000?

Answer 2

Mary in 1993 = 2x.
2000, 2x+7?

Answer 3

Mary in 1993 = 2x. Correct
2000, 2x+7? Correct for Mary
For Ben x+7

Now, can you express the sentence "In 2000, Mary was 7 years older than Ben" with an equation?

Answer 4

If you're stuck, say so :)

Answer 5

ahaha im stuck

Answer 6

Ok, we've figured out that

Ben's age in 1993: x
Mary's age in 1993: 2*x (twice as much as Ben's)
Ben's age in 2000: x+7
Mary's age in 2000: 2x+7

We know that in 2000 Mary was 7 years older than Ben. So if we add 7 to Ben's age in 2000, we get Mary's age in 2000. We can write it as

(x+7)+7=2*x+7

Do you follow so far? If not, which step is unclear?

Answer 7

Oh yep

Answer 8

@beginnersmind

Answer 9

Can you solve the last equation:

(x+7)+7=2x+7

?

Answer 10

aha oops
x=7

Answer 11

Thanks :D

Answer 12

Ok, remember that x was Ben's age in 1993. They asked for Ben's age in 2004

Answer 13

In 2004 he will be 18 (:

Answer 14

Right :)

How do you do that inverted smiley-face?

Answer 15

LOL all you do is press the brackets first
(:

Answer 16

LOL, I feel silly now

Answer 17

AHA it's alright