How do you set up an equation for this Algebra word problem?

Question

Mrs. Jones was 24 years old when Sally was born. In three years, the sum of their ages will be 68 years. How old is each now?

*Don't worry about solving the problem if you don't want to; I just don't know how to do it so I need an equation for it.

Thank you, MsMath. It worked! =)

Answer 1

Let x = Sally's age now, then x+24 = Mrs. Jones' age now.
In three years, Sally will be x+3 years old, and in three years, Mrs. Jones will be x+24+3 = x+27 years old.
The sum of their ages three years from now is 68, so
x+3 + x+27 = 68
2x + 30 = 68
2x = 38
x = 19 years for Sally
x+24 = 19+24 = 43 years for Mrs. Jones.

Check: In three years Sally is 22. In three years Mrs. Jones is 46.
22+46 = 68

Answer 2

Just write down the information in formula form as it is given to you.
At any time, M=S+24, because the mom was 24 when Sally was born.
Age of Mom now =M
Age of Sally now =S
In three years they are each 3 years older or M+3
And S+3
The sum will be 68, so M+3+S+3=68
Plug in Sallys age=M-24
M+3+(M-24)+3=68
M+3+M-21=68
2M-18=68
2M=68+18
2M=86
M=43
S=M-24
S=19
Check, (19+3)+(43+3)=68
The answers are not important. A systematic method of displaying the information without shortcuts will take you through almost any word problem. As you aquire practice, the equations will just pop out at you.

Answer 3

Let x = Sally's age
Let x + 24 = Mrs. Jones age

(x+3) + (x+24 + 3) = 68

x+3+x+27=68
2x + 30 = 68
x = 38
x=19

So Sally is 19 and Mrs. Jones is 43.

Answer 4

x+x+24= 68
2x = 44
x= 22 =Sally's age 3 years from now
x+24 = 46 = Mrs Jones age 3 years from now.
So Sally's age now is 19 and Jones/s age now is 41.

Answer 5

Two unknowns S & J require two equations.

The first one is obvious ( when you know it.)
J = S + 24

The second equation is J + S = 68 at 3 years hence.

Solving for J &S get S = 22 & J = 46 3 years hence.
So, today they are S = 19 & J = 43.

Just pick out the unknowns J & S, what else?
One equation is usually a sum.
Tease out the other one.
OK?

Answer 6

$30 VIP tickets= X $18 = a million/5X $10= 11/5X 10(11/5X)+ 18(a million/5X) + 30(X) = 9500 22X+ 18/5X + 30X= 9500 278/5X=9500 278X= 40 seven,500 X=171 $30 = 171 Tickets $18 = 34 Tickets $10 = 376 Tickets