Answer: 9, 18, 21, and 23 respectively
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve any problem like this, you want to assign a variable to each child because you dont know their age. So lets write an equation and assign variables to these children.
r = first child (youngest)
x = second child
y = third child
z = fourth child (oldest)
We know that r + x + y + z = 71
We also are given info on the comparisons of their ages.
r = r
x = 2r (2 times the youngest)
y = 12 + r (12 more than the youngest)
z = 3r - 4 (4 less than 3 times the youngest)
That was the easy part tbh, now we have to solve for 'r'. We can see that all the ages are a function of the same variable (r), and we know the sum of them is equal to 71. So lets solve for r and then plug that r value into each equation we just derived.
<u>Child #1 (youngest)</u>
<u>Child #2</u>
<u>Child #3</u>
<u>Child #4 (oldest)</u>
<u>Fact Check:</u>