question about a word problem

bbayes81

New member
Joined
May 29, 2008
Messages
5
I am new to this and hope I am in the right forum.


I have the following problem:

How old will you be when you are three times as old as the youngest person

x=my age 27
y=youngest age 4
c=solution to question

(3y-y)+x = C

This is what I came up with, but it only works for my set of numbers. How do I come up with an equation that always holds true, or is that possible in this case?
 
What is the actual problem statement, exactly?. That would help.
 
a. Refer back to Week One and use the names and ages of yourself and the other two people you selected in this week’s discussion.

b. How many years older was the person older than you when you were born?

c. Write an equation that models how old in years each of you will be, when your ages add up to 150 years old. For example, if the eldest person was one year older than you, then the equation would be: x(you) + (x+1) (eldest person) = 150.

d. Explain the reasoning which helped you develop your equation.

e. Solve for your future ages. Are your answers reasonable, do they add up to 150?

f. In years, how old were you when the youngest person was born?

g. Write an equation which models how old, in years, you will be when you are 3 times as old as the younger person.

h. Explain the reasoning which helped you develop your equation.

i. Solve for your ages, when you are 3 times as old. Are your answers reasonable?

j. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings. Check their equations and investigate for mathematical errors. Help with a constructive critique.


It is in a series of questions and is letter G. My ages were 27,46,and 4
 
How old will you be when you are three times as old as the youngest?.

You are now 27 and the youngest is 4.

It will not be an integer.

Let x be the years in the future.

27+x=3(4+x)

Solve for x=15/2=7.5

27+7.5=34.5

4+7.5=11.5

3(11.5)=34.5.......check.
 
27 + x = 3 (4+x)
12 +3x
-27 -27
x = -15 +3x
-3x -3x
-2x/-2 = -15/-2
x=7.5


27+7.5=34.5
4 +7.5=11.5


34.5 = 3
11.5

Thank you so much. Got my brain turning in the right direction.
 
Top