Sum of Ed and George's age is 36. The product of their age is 320. What is the difference between their ages

Question

Sum of Ed and George's age is 36. The product of their age is 320. What is the difference between their ages?

Answer 1

Let x be Ed's age; then George is 36 - x, so that the sum of their ages sure is 36.

the product is x(36-x)=320

 

Leads to x² -36x +320 = 0

Factoring gives (x-16)(x-20) = 0

 

So Ed must be 16 and George must be 20, or vice versa (taking the absolute value of age differences)