this year jack will be 2 years from being twice as old as jen. the sum of jack's age and three times jen's age is 66. how old is jen?

Question

this year jack will be 2 years from being twice as old as jen. the sum of jack's age and three times jen's age is 66. how old is jen?

Answer 1

  The problem tells us that Jack's age is twice Jen's age less 2 years. 

 

      If Jen's age = x, then Jack's age is 2x - 2

 

  It also tells us that Jack's age +  3 times Jen's age = 66

 

                                     (2x - 2) + 3x = 66

 

Combine like terms               5x - 2 = 66

 

Add 2 to both sides               5x - 2 + 2 = 66 + 2

 

                                           5x = 68

 

Divide both sides by 5           5x/5 = 68/5

 

                                             x = 13 3/5

 

 

So Jen is 13 3/5 yrs old.  

 

 

Check the answer by substituting 13 3/5 for x in the equation

 

                                     (2x - 2) + 3x = 66

                (2(13 3/5) - 2) + 3(13 3/5) = 66

                         (26 6/5 - 2) + 39 9/5 = 66

                                 24 6/5 + 39 9/5 = 66

                (24 + 1 1/5) + (39 + 1 4/5) = 66

                                  25 1/5 + 40 4/5 = 66

                                                      66 = 66

  

 

Answer 2

Dear Kristin,

   You should take a story problem and highlight all key words and numbers.

 

Question:  How old is Jen?       

 

Let X= Jen's age

 

This year Jack's age =2X-2

 

 

Jack's age + three times Jen's age =66 

                

 

2X-2 + 3X =66              2X+3X-2=66               Collect terms

 

5X-2=66                   add 2 to both sides of equation

 

5X= 68                Divide both sides by the number next to X, and you are done.

 

X=________

 

 

You can check your answer by substituting the value for X into 2X-2 +3X=66.

 

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                                                                 Susan C.