another Math question

Ok ladies thanks for all your help this is for my brothers intro to algebra class and well I haven't looked at this kind of math in a long time so im prety lost! lol

Shelly is 3 years older than Michele. Four years ago the sum of their ages was 71. Find the age of each person now

Four years ago
Shelly x - 1
Michele x - 4

Now
x+3
x

Message edited 3/5/2011 1:18:51 PM.

Re: another Math question

I'm sure this is too late, but this is how you solve this problem algebraically, from a high school math teacher.

First, you need a let statement, like the one you have.

let Michele = x
let Shelly = x + 3

4 years ago
Michele = x - 4
Shelly = x + 3 - 4 = x - 1

4 years ago the sum of their ages was 71, so:

x - 4 + x - 1 =71
2x -5 = 71
+5 +5

2x = 76
x = 38

Michele (who is x) is 38
Shelly (who is x + 3) is 41

Check:
4 years ago Michele was 34 and Shelly was 37

34 + 37 = 71

PS I'm not a lady.

Message edited 3/11/2011 9:42:39 PM.