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keionte
keionte asked in Science & MathematicsMathematics · 4 years ago

Can you help me please ?

In a film, actor Charles Coburn plays an elderly "uncle" character criticized for marrying a woman when he is 3 times her age. He wittily replies, "Ah, but in 30 years time I shall only be twice her age." Using algebra as opposed to "trial & error", how old is the "uncle" and the woman?

3 Answers

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  • Morningfox
    Lv 7
    4 years ago

    Set up the equations

    U = 3W

    U+30 = 2 (W+ 30)

    Subtract the equations, to get

    30 = 2(W + 30) -3W

    So then

    30 = 2W + 60 - 3W

    30 = 60 - W

    30 = W

    So Uncle is 90, and woman is 30

    In 30 years, he will be 120, and she will be 60

  • Krishnamurthy
    Lv 7
    4 years ago

    h = 3w

    (h + 30) = 2(w + 30)

    w = 30

    uncle is 90 and the woman is 30

  • Mathmom
    Lv 7
    4 years ago

    　

    u = 3w

    (u+30) = 2(w+30)

    3w + 30 = 2w + 60

    w = 30

    Uncle is 90, woman is 30

    [In 30 years, uncle will be 120, woman will be 60, so uncle will indeed be only twice her age!]

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