Tim is 4 yrs older than bob. If the sum of their ages is 96 how old is bob?

Answer 1

Your child is being exposed to algebraic thinking yet he or she cannot understand the symbolic x and y algebra language. For elementary students, a visual bar model picture can be used.

Although I cannot draw it or attach a picture in this text format response, if you contact me, I can walk your through how to draw a simple relationship picture in 10 minutes that your child and you will understand!

Your child needs to see the relationship first, then, later, we attach symbolic algebraic letter representations. Young children are concrete learners. Through the use of pictures, we increase their visualization so they progress on the road to abstraction to "see" the relationships in a more abstract way with letters that represent what are called bar model pictures.

This article link, http://www.thedailyriff.com/articles/singapore-math-171.php =, may be helpful in understanding how Singapore Math approaches problems in a concrete to pictures to abstract method that makes sense to children and adults!

Answer 2

Let Tim's age be x and bob's age be y:

x = 4 + y

x + y = 96

This becomes a system of equations problem. Let us substitute 4 + y for x in the second equation.

4 + y + y = 96

4 + 2y = 96

2y = 92

y = 46

Bob is 46 years old.