Quote:
Originally Posted by Ivy Lucille  Oh my word, I hate math! Can somebody help with this problem solving question?
Your cousin is 26 yrs older than your sister. The product of their ages is 560. How old is your sister?
Now, I know the answer because I looked in the back of the book. I need to know, what strategy to use?
I can post the answer if it helps. Can somebody explain it?
Thank you! |
Okay, here you go:
Your cousin is 26yrs older, so that means in math terms: 26+x
Your sister is x
You're solving for x
(26+x)*x = 560
multiply x
You get x^2 +26x = 560
Move the 560
x^2 + 26x -560 = 0
Factoring is fun!
(x+40)(x-14) = 0
Now solve each individually, and only one will make sense.
x+40=0
x=-40 WRONG!
x-14=0
x=14
Yay!