Can you please help me with my word PROBLEM???

Question

 Rosa is three times as old as her daughter Mary the sum of their ages is 44 years old. How old is Mary

Answer 1

Rosa = 3 * Mary

Rosa + Mary = 44

 

Substitute Rosa = 3 * Mary into the second equation ,

 

So now the second equation is   (3 * Mary)  + Mary = 44

 

and 3 Mary's plus 1 Mary is 4 Mary's, so this simplifies to  4 * Mary = 44.

 

Divide both sides by 4 and get that Mary = 11.