70 - q - q - 2q = 80
-4q = 80 - 70
-4q = -10
q = -10/-4
q = -2.5
Celeste is 30 and Beth is 25
let x be Celeste's age now then Beth is x - 5
next year they will be 1 year older
Celeste's age will be x + 1 and Beth will be x - 5 + 1 = x - 4
the sum of their ages is therefore
x + 1 + x - 4 = 57
2x - 3 = 57 ( add 3 to both sides )
2x = 60 ( divide both sides by 2 )
x = 30
Celeste is 30 and Beth is 30 - 5 = 25
The value of y is positive 8
