Chapter 9.7, Problem 18OE

To determine

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

Answer to Problem 18OE

The expression is $b+c=24$ .

Explanation of Solution

Given information:

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

Next year, the sum of Bob’s age and Claire’s age will 26.

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 b = the Bob’s age now.

Let c = the Claire’s age now.

Age	Now	Next year
Bob	$b$	$b+1$
Claire	$c$	$c+1$

According to the question,

The sum of age Bob and Claire is 26.

  $\begin{array}{l}=b+1+c+1=26\\ =b+c+2=26\\ =b+c=26-2\\ =b+c=24\end{array}$

Hence, the expression is $b+c=24$ .