Jack was 16 years older than Prescilla.

Question

Together their ages totaled 166 years.

 

What were their ages?

Answer 1

Jack (J) was 16 years older than Priscilla (P), so J = 16 + P. Their combined age is 166, so J + P = 166. Isolating J, J = 166 - P.

We can now substitute J in the first equation with its equivalent value in the second equation. 166 - P = 16 + P. We simplify by adding P to each side, so 166 = 16 + 2P. Then, we subtract 16 from each side so 150 = 2P. Divide both sides by 2, and P = 75.

Now, we can solve for Jack's age. J = 16 + P, or 16 + 75, so Jack is 91 years old and Priscilla is 75 years old.