Mrs hill is 33 years older than her son. In 4 years she will be four times as old as her son. How old is each?

Question

Mrs hill is 33 years older than her son. In 4 years she will be four times as old as her son. How old is each?

Answer 1

Hi Holly, let x represent Mrs. Hill's son's age. Then Mrs. Hill's age is x + 33. In four years, the son will be x + 4 and Mrs. Hill will be x + 37, or 4 times as old as her son.

 

The equation:

 

4 * (x + 4) = x + 37, son's age times 4 equals mothers age.

 

solve for x:

 

4x + 16 = x + 37

 

Combine terms:

 

3x = 21

 

x = 7

 

The son's original age was 7. In four years he will be 11.

 

Mother's original age was 7 + 33, or 40. In four years she will be 44, or four times older than her son.

 

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