A teacher is five times as old as his student. The sum of their ages is 42. Determine the ages of the teacher and the student by setting up and solving a pair of simultaneous equations.

Solution

Solution

Student^{'} s age is : 7

Teacher^{'} s age is : 35

Solution steps

Translate the problem into an equation:

5 x + x = 42

Solve for

x, 5 x + x = 42 : x = 7

Find age

Student^{'} s age is : 7

Teacher^{'} s age is : 35

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