Question

Max and his father Kirk are comparing their ages. They know that the sum of their ages is 52 and

that Kirk is seven years older than four times Max's age.
(a) If Max's age is represented by m and Kirk's age by, write a system of equations that describes the two relationships from the problem
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Answer 1

let Max's age =m

Kirk's age=k

k=7+4m

k-4m=7.........(i)

k+m=52.........(II)

k=7+4m.........(III)

from equation 1 substitute 7+4m for k in

equation 2.

7+4m+m=52

5m=52-7

5m=45

m=45/5

m=9

.:Max's age is 9 years.

From equation (2) k+m=52

k+9=52

k=52-9

k=43

:. kirk's age is 43 years.