Question

Melissa is 24 years younger than Joyce. In 2 years, Joyce will be 3 times as old as Melissa will be then. How old are they now?

Answer 1

I'm working on it

Answer 2

Let x be the age of Melissa now.
From the question, ''Melissa is 24 years younger than Joyce''. That means age of Joyce is age of Melissa + 24, so age of Joyce = x+24.

Two years later...
Melissa will be x+2 years old.
Joyce will be (x+24) + 2 years old.

By then, Joyce will be 3 times as old as Melissa,
So, 3 times the age of Melissa two years later will be the age of Joyce two years later.
So, you get the equation
3 (x+2) = (x+24) + 2
And you have to solve it.
Do you understand what I've been working on?

Answer 3

3x + 6 = x +24 +2
3x - x = 26-6
2x = 20
x = 10
But Melissa is x +2 years old
Melissa is 10 +2 years old
Therefore, Melissa is 12 years old

Answer 4

Joyce = (x +24) +2 years old
Joyce = 10 + 24 +2
Joyce = 36 years old
Therefore, Melissa is 12 Years old while Joyce is 36 years old.
The answer is accurate with the question. Given that Melissa is 24 years younger