Age Problem

Jamal is 6 years younger than his sister. The sum of their ages is 34. How old is Jamal?

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x = sister's age
x - 6 = Jamal's age   {Jamal is 6 years younger than his sister}

x + x - 6 = 34  {sum of their ages is 34}
2x - 6 = 34  {combined like terms}
2x = 40  {added 6 to each side}
x = 20  {divided each side by 2}
x - 6 = 14  {substituted 20, in for x, into x - 6}

Jamal is 14
his sister is 20

Ask the House
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