Re: using more than one unknown (word problem)
porgy said:
no idea what the formula is
There's your problem, right there. What formula? You've been studying agebra so that you can write what you need.
porgy said:
I have no idea ... where to begin.
That's just false. You can define variables. You can manipulate equations. Where's the "no idea" part?
porgy said:
The four oldest people in Golden City have lived a total of 384 years put together. The difference in ages for the youngest and the second oldest is 14. The second youngest is 3 years older than the youngest. The oldest is 20 years older than the average of the second oldest and youngest. Find their ages and enter them from youngest to oldest.
Please help! I have no idea what the formula is or where to begin.
The four oldest people in China. Define their ages.
C1 = Age of Youngest of the four
C2 = Age of Second Youngest
C3 = Age of Second Oldest
C4 = Age of Oldest
That all there is to it. Now translate.
"The four oldest people in Golden City have lived a total of 384 years put together."
C1 + C2 + C3 + C4 = 384 -- You can do that.
"The difference in ages for the youngest and the second oldest is 14."
C3 - C1 = 14 -- You can do that.
Okay, I'm tired. You do the rest, since we've established that you CAN do it.
"The second youngest is 3 years older than the youngest."
{TRANSLATE}
"The oldest is 20 years older than the average of the second oldest and youngest."
{TRANSLATE}
{SOLVE} You will need substitution and the ability to pay attention.
