Find the present ages of joey and his mother

Question

The sum of the present ages of joey and his mother is 46 years. In 4 years joey will be 3 years less than one-half as old as his mother at that time. Find the present ages of joey and his mother

Answer 1

j + m = 46

j + 4 = ((m + 4)/2) - 3

 

We can do this a number of ways, but let's solve each for j.

 

j = 46 - m

 

j = ((m + 4)/2) - 7

 

Since j equals two things, they equal each other.

 

46 - m = ((m + 4)/2) - 7

53 - m = (m + 4)/2

2(53 - m) = m + 4

106 - 2m = m + 4

-3m = -102

m = 34

 

j = 46 - 34

j = 12