What would be the equation to express Sarah's age if Sarah is 24 years younger than her mother and if the sum of their ages is 68?

2 Answers
Aug 5, 2018

#color(purple)(x + (x +24) = 68, color(magenta)(" where 'x' is Sara's age"#

#color(chocolate)("Sara's Age " = x = 22 " years"#

Explanation:

#"Let Sara's age be " color(crimson)(x)#

#"Age of Sara's mother " = x + 24#

#:. x + (x +24) = 68#

#2x = 68 - 24 = 44#

#color(brown)("Sara's Age " x = 44/2 = 22 " years"#

Aug 5, 2018

# 2S + 24 = 68 # or

S = 22

Explanation:

let S = Sarah's age
Let M = Mother's age

S + M = 68
S + 24 = M

combining the two equations putting S + 24 for M gives

S + S + 24 = 68

Add the 2 S's and subtract the 24 from both sides

# S + S + 24 - 24 = 68 - 24 #

This gives

# 2S = 44 #

divide both sides by 2

# 2S/2 = 44/2 #

S = 22