Question

Carlos is 3 more than twice Ella’s age. If the sum of their ages is 54 years, determine their ages.

Answer 1

Answer:

Carlos is 37 years old and Ella is 17.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let,

Carlos = c

Ella = e

If Carlos is 3 more than twice Ella's age, we get the equation:

2e + 3 = c (1)

Since the sum of their ages is 54, we get the equation:

c + e = 54 (2)

Now we have a system of equations.

Since equation number 1 already designated the value of c in terms of e, we can substitute it into the second equation.

(2e+3) + e = 54

Lets combine like terms and solve!

2e + e + 3 = 54

3e = 51

e = 17

Let's substitute e back into one of the equations to figure out the value of c. I'm going to use equation 1.

2e + 3 = c

2(17) + 3 = c

34 + 3 = c

37 = c

Let's substitute the values of c and e into the second equations to check our work! (We know c and e already fulfill the first equation as we substituted e into it to get c)

c + e = 54

37 + 17 = 54

54 = 54

Now that we've checked our work, we know our answer is correct! Carlos is 37 years old and Ella is 17.