Please help with this word problem

Question

Mary turned 12 on the first of June. Jane will have a party on her birthday 37 days later, and Zack plans his birthday party 91 days after Jane. The twins had their party 81 days before Mary. How much older than Zack are the twins (Give your answer in days)

Answer 1

"Mary turned 12" is extra information.

 

"on the first of June" is important only because we will avoid Leap Year in February.

 

So, let June 1 be DAY 0 for our calculations (that is, START).

 

"Jane will have a party on her birthday 37 days later"       means    J=37

 

"Zack plans his birthday party 91 days after Jane"    means   Z=J+91 = 37+91=128

              [note: Z is still before Feb. 28/29, so we're o.k.)

 

"twins had their party 81 days before Mary"     means    T = -21      [ah ha!, negative]

 

:How much older than Zack are the twins"    means   Z - T

   [note: low birthdays mean person is older]

 

   Z - T  =   128 - (-81)

   Z - T =   209 days

 

Note:  you could have the twins party on day 0, Mary's party on day 81, Jane's party on 118, and Zack's party on day 209.   Z - T = 209 - 0 = 209