problem???help!!!!!!?

Question

The sum of the ages of Mike and james is 48 years. eight years from now, james will be three times mikes age. find their present age.

Answer 1

Let Mike = x
James = y
x + y = 48.....Eq 1
y + 8 = 3x.....Eq 2
Consider Eq 2
y + 8 = 3(x + 8)
y = 3x + 24 - 8
y = 3x +16
Substitute in Eq 1
x + 3x + 16 = 48
4x + 16 = 48
4x = 32
x = 8
y = 48 - 8 = 40
The present age of Mike is 8
The present age of James is 40

Answer 2

Let M = Mike's age
J = James' age.

Then M + J = 48

8 years from now, James will be three times Mike's age. Let's make a table.

Person - - - - - - - - Now - - - - - - - - 8 years from now
______ - - - - - - - - ____ - - - - - - - - ______________

Mike - - - - - - - - - - - M - - - - - - - - - - - - - - M + 8
James - - - - - - - - - - J - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3(M+8)

The following equation below represents how James' age in 8 years (left hand side of the equation) will be 3 times Mike's age in 8 years (represented by the right hand side). Therefore,

J + 8 = 3(M+8), which becomes
J + 8 = 3M + 24

And, changing this into a two variable equations

3M - J = -16

So our two equations and two unknowns are:

M + J = 48
3M - J = -16

We can solve this by elimination and add the equations, to cancel out the J.

4M = 32
M = 8

Now that we have M = 8, we can solve for J. J = 40 (since the sum of their ages would be 48).

M = 8
J = 40

At present, Mike is 8 years old and James is 40 years old.

8 years from now, James will be 48 and Mike would be 16, precisely three times Mike's age.

Answer 3

The question asks for their present ages. So lets call mike's present age M and James' present age J. The problem gives you two pieces of information:

1) mike's age plus james' age is 48.
2) in eight years, james' age will be 3 times mike's age.

can you represent each statement with an equation? If not, say where you get stuck, and I'll try to help.

Answer 4

mike= 8 years
james = 40 years
let james age = j
mike age= m
m +j = 48 --(1)
j+8 = 3*(m+8) --(2)

Answer 5

In this case, you have two simultaneous equations:

J+M = 48 (J and M represent James and Mike)
(J+8) = 3(M+8)

Rearrange J+M =48 into J = 48-M, then put it into the second equation

((48 - M) +8) = 3(M+ 8)
(56-M) = 3M+24
32 = 4M
M = 8

Put M=8 back into first equation to find
J +8 = 48
J = 40

Therefore, at present, Mike is 8 while James is 40

Answer 6

Let us say Present Ages of Mike and James are M & J.
M+J=48 ---- (1)
J+8=3(M+8)
3M-J= -16 ---- (2)
(1)+(2) ---> 4M=32 ---> M=8 ---> J=40

So, Present ages of Mike and James are 8 and 40 respectively.

Answer 7

*Rewrite the info in numerical data:
1. m + j = 48
2. j + 8 = 3(m + 8) Or j + 8 = 3m + 24

First: take either equation and solve for "m" or "j". Let's take the first equation and solve for "j" > subtract "m" from both sides:

m - m + j = 48 - m
j = 48 - m

*Replace (48 - m) with the "j" variable in the second equation:

48 - 3 + 8 = 3m + 24
56 - m = 3m + 24

Second: solve for "m" and keep it one one side (left) > subtract 56 from both sides:

56 - 56 - m = 3m + 24 - 56
-m = 3m -32

Third: subtract 3m from both sides:

- m - 3m = 3m - 3m - 32
- 4m = -32

Divide both sides by - 4:

- 4m/- 4 = -32/ -4
m = 8

Next, take (8) and replace it with the "m" variable in the first equation:

8 + j = 48
8 - 8 + j = 48 - 8
j = 40

Mike > 8 yrs
James > 40 yrs

Answer 8

good point, kstock.. !

present ages : mike-- 14
james-- 34

Answer 9

ummm.... do it yourself lazy!