Word Problem

"Write an equation that models how old you will be when you are 3 times as old as the younger person."

My answer - Since I am currently 50 years old and the younger person is 10, I am 5 times older or 5 x 10. If I am 3 times older, my age is 30 or 3 x 10.

Does anyone concur? Thanks!

AlexD said:

"Write an equation that models how old you will be when you are 3 times as old as the younger person."

My answer - Since I am currently 50 years old and the younger person is 10, I am 5 times older or 5 x 10. If I am 3 times older, my age is 30 or 3 x 10.

Does anyone concur? Thanks!

Click to expand...

No. You will be 3 times his age when you're 60: he'll then be 20; you'll both increase by 10. OK?

Denis - What would the formula be for your solution?

AlexD

Alex, what you wrote :
> My answer - Since I am currently 50 years old and the younger person is 10, I am 5 times older or 5 x 10.
>If I am 3 times older, my age is 30 or 3 x 10.
is NOT an equation; equations always have an equal (=) sign.

Your question:
> "Write an equation that models how old you will be when you are 3 times as old as the younger person."
Let x = your age, y = younger person's age
You will be 3 times as old in a certain number of years: let n = that number of years; SO:
x + n = 3(y + n) : that the equation that "models"...

IF you were 3 times as old in the past, n will be negative.

Are you a student attending math classes, or learning on your own?

Thanks Denis! I am a student in an online college math class for non-math majors.