Question

3 sisters are each 2 years apart in age. The youngest sister is Emily, the middle sister is Samantha and the oldest sister is Lauren. Together their combined ages are 42. How old is each sister?

a. Define the variable(s).

b. Write an equation for this situation using one variable.

c. Solve the equation for the ages of the 3 sisters.

Answer 1

@texaschic101

Answer 2

Did you give it a try ?

Answer 3

no

Answer 4

Ohk then let me give a hint

Answer 5

Let the age of:

Emily = x
Samantha = y
Lauren = z

Answer 6

guage! its easy haha

Answer 7

Since, the difference between the ages is 2 years then, can we write this?

y = x+2; z = y+2

Answer 8

Thus:

y = x+2 ---- (1)
z = (x+2)+2 = x + 4 ------ (2)


Also, you know the combined sum of the ages of the three sisters, so:

x + y + z = 42 --- (3)

Now, use equations (1) and (2) to write equation (3) in terms of x only

Answer 9

kyle my name is spelled gaige

Answer 10

@kylefoster58 and your sitting next to me lol

Answer 11

@mathsciencehistory can you write eq (3) in terms of x only ?

Answer 12

lol maybe

Answer 13

x+x+x=42

Answer 14

Nope!

Use equations (1) and (2) to replace y and z by x + 2 and x+4 respectively

Answer 15

no i spelled it right!

Answer 16

lmao kial

Answer 17

variables are E, S, L

2 years apart
S = E + 2
L = E + 4

E + S + L = 42
E + (E + 2) + (E + 4) = 42
3E + 6 = 42
3E = 42 - 6
3E = 36
E = 12
now sub 12 in for E in the other equations to find their ages

Answer 18

im soo lost i learn better if you just write out the answer

Answer 19

if E = 12...then..
S = E + 2
S = 12 + 2
S = 14
and
L = E + 4
L = 12 + 4
L = 16

so emily is 12, samantha is 14, and lauren is 16

Answer 20

ok thanxs

Answer 21

sure thing :)

Answer 22

and what would the equation with one variable be??

Answer 23

E + (E + 2) + (E + 4) = 42

Answer 24

thats if you let E represent Emily

Answer 25

understand ?

Answer 26

sorta ill come back to these later when im done with the exam