Question

Fluffy the cat is 3 years older than Scuffy the dog. Six less than five times Scruffy's age is one more than three times Fluffy's age. How old is each animal?

Answer 1

Answer: fluffy is 11 years old

Scuffy is 8 years old

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x represent the present age of Fluffy the cat.

Let y represent the present age of Scuffy the dog.

Fluffy the cat is 3 years older than Scuffy the dog. This means that

x = y + 3 - - - - - -- - - - - 1

Six less than five times Scruffy's age is one more than three times Fluffy's age. This means that

5y - 6 = 3x + 1

5y - 3x = 1 + 6

5y - 3x = 7 - - - - - - - - - -2

Substituting equation 1 into equation 2, it becomes

5y - 3(y + 3) = 7

5y - 3y - 9 = 7

5y - 3y = 7 + 9

2y = 16

y = 16/2 = 8

x = y + 3

x = 8 + 3 = 11