Chapter 9.7, Problem 15OE

To determine

To express: the age in terms of b and c .

Answer to Problem 15OE

The age of Bob is $\frac{c}{2}$ .

Explanation of Solution

Given information:

  $\begin{array}{l}b=\text{Bob's age}\\ c=\text{Claire's age}\end{array}$

Bob is half as old as Claire.

Formula used:

Age problem.

Step1. The problem asks for the Bob’s age and Claire’s age now.

Step2. Let b = the Bob’s age now.

Let c = the Claire’s age now.

Step3. Use the facts of the problem to write two equations.

Step4. Solve the equations.

Calculation:

Consider ,

Let c = the Claire’s age now.

According to the question ,

The age of Bob is

  $\begin{array}{l}=\frac{1}{2}(c)\\ =\frac{c}{2}\end{array}$

Age	Now
Bob	$\frac{c}{2}$
Claire	$c$

Hence, the age of Bob is $\frac{c}{2}$ .