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shehreenquayyum
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WORD PROBLEM 18 Jun 2006, 17:37
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This seems like an easy question, but for some reason I'm not getting it. Explanation isn't that great either.

Joan, Kylie, Lillian, and Miriam all celebrate their birthdays today. Joan is 2 years younger than Kylie, Kylie is 3 years older than Lillian, and Miriam is one year older than Joan. Which of the following could be the combined age of all four women today?

51
52
53
54
55


sq



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necromonger
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WORD PROBLEM 18 Jun 2006, 17:46
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shehreenquayyum

Joan, Kylie, Lillian, and Miriam all celebrate their birthdays today. Joan is 2 years younger than Kylie, Kylie is 3 years older than Lillian, and Miriam is one year older than Joan. Which of the following could be the combined age of all four women today?

51
52
53
54
55
sq
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Sounds like a good "number plugging" problem to me. Let's first get equations in relative to 1 member.
J = k-2, K = L+3, M=J+1,
so J+K+L+M = J+(J+2)+(J+2-3)+J+1 = 4J+2
Since J has to be an integer, what gets us closes to 50?
J = 12 => total = 50, no such choice
J = 13 =>total = 54 - hmmmmm...I see it!
J = 14 => total = 58, not possible

So 54 must be the answer, which means Joan is 13 years old, Kylie is 15, lilian is 12 and Miriam is 14.

Since these are obviously "girls", the question is wrong since it calls them WOMEN ;) ok, just kidding.
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shehreenquayyum
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WORD PROBLEM 18 Jun 2006, 17:56
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Thanks Necromonger.....so simple!


sq
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ywilfred
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WORD PROBLEM 18 Jun 2006, 18:40
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Let:

Kylie = x years old
Joan = (x-2) years old
Lillian = (x-3) years old
Miriam = (x-1) years old

Total = 4x-6

4x-6 = 51 --> 4x = 57 (out)
4x-6 = 52 --> 4x = 58 (out)
4x-6 = 53 --> 4x = 59 (out)
4x-6 = 54 --> 4x = 60
4x-6 = 55 --> 4x = 61 (out)

D is the best choice.
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Yurik79
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WORD PROBLEM 18 Jun 2006, 20:13
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ywilfred
Let:

Kylie = x years old
Joan = (x-2) years old
Lillian = (x-3) years old
Miriam = (x-1) years old

Total = 4x-6

4x-6 = 51 --> 4x = 57 (out)
4x-6 = 52 --> 4x = 58 (out)
4x-6 = 53 --> 4x = 59 (out)
4x-6 = 54 --> 4x = 60
4x-6 = 55 --> 4x = 61 (out)

D is the best choice.
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Same approach agree with D
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Zooroopa
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WORD PROBLEM 19 Jun 2006, 00:50
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Notice that no relationship exist for Lillee's age. So resolve all of the women's ages in terms of Lillee's age. Let Lillee's age be 'L'.

Then 4L + 1+2+3 is the combined age i.e (4L + 6). This is satisfied by D.
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haas_mba07
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WORD PROBLEM 19 Jun 2006, 06:27
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d. 54

Getting the equations seems easy enough

j=k-2
k=l+3
m=j+1

Plugging in values of l (from 10..just picked one),
@ l = 11 sum = 50 (less)
@ l = 12 sum = 54 (match)
@ l = 13 sum = 60 (greater)

Therefore d.54
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achiever
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WORD PROBLEM 19 Jun 2006, 13:11
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Hi guys...im new to this forum.Came across this question. drawing all ages in terms of J we get equation 4J+ 2 and this number should be even by all means. so by process of elimination we have 52 and 54 . By solving for J using 52 we wont get integer. so 54 is the right answer. J=13.



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Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
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