Question #f91fa

1 Answer
Sep 11, 2016

Ages are #8, 10 and 12#

Explanation:

We need to define variables to represent their ages.
Integers are whole numbers, positive, negative and zero.

Consecutive numbers are numbers such as 14,15, 16, 17 ....

Consecutive even numbers are like 12,14,16,18 ....
(They differ by 2)

Let the age of youngest sister be #x#.
Middle sister's age is #x+2#
Oldest sister's age is #x+4#

Now use the information to form an equation:

#(3x) + (x+2) + 2(x+4) = 58#
#3x +x+2+2x+8 = 58#
#6x +10= 58#
#6x = 58-10#
#6x = 48#
#x = 8#

Refer back to the definitions
Youngest = #x = 8# years old:
Middle= #x+2 = 10 #years old
Oldest = x+4 = 12#