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HELP : Algebra Question!

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HELP : Algebra Question!

by KevinTheGMAT » Sun Feb 08, 2009 8:13 pm
Hey! Im a 13 year old boy...and Im not afraid to admit it. Well, Im having a really hard time with this question. Would you please help me?

My father is 24 years older than I am. In two years, he will be three times as old as I am. How old is each of us, now?

Thanks again for helping me with this question.
Please tell me how to figure it out and the answer! :(
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by agoyal2 » Sun Feb 08, 2009 8:36 pm
Take:
Child = x
Fater = x+24

After 3 Years:
Child = x+3
Father = x+24 +3

As per the given relationship:
x+27 = 3(x+3)
x+27=3x+9
2x=18
x=9

So, Child = 9 Yrs and Father 33 Yrs
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by Ian Stewart » Sun Feb 08, 2009 8:55 pm
agoyal2 wrote:
After 3 Years:
Child = x+3
Father = x+24 +3

...
So, Child = 9 Yrs and Father 33 Yrs
Nice work agoyal, but I think you misread one word in the question:
KevinTheGMAT wrote: My father is 24 years older than I am. In two years, he will be three times as old as I am. How old is each of us, now?
So, the child should be 10, the father 34, so that in two years they will be 12 and 36. The algebra (just editing agoyal's work):

Child = x
Father = x+24

After 2 years:
Child = x+2
Father = x+24 +2 = x+26

Since the Father's age is three times the Child's age after 2 years:
x+26 = 3(x+2)
x+26=3x+6
2x=20
x=10
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by agoyal2 » Mon Feb 09, 2009 12:24 am
Oops! My bad.. I hope I don't make these mistakes when taking the test. Thanks for correcting me Ian!
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by KevinTheGMAT » Mon Feb 09, 2009 4:14 pm
Thanks guys! This really helped me... :D
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