Homework Help: math

Posted by jason on Friday, February 15, 2008 at 12:23am.

In four years Cathy’s cat Byte will be three fourths as old as Cathy will be. Four years ago, Byte was only half as old as Cathy was. How old are Cathy and her cat?

I am struggling to solve this two variable word problem.

please help.

math - drwls, Friday, February 15, 2008 at 1:39am
C be Cathy's age now and B be Byte's age now.
B+4 = (3/4) (C+4) = (3/4) C + 3
B-4 = (1/2) (C-4) = (1/2) C - 2

Subtract the two equations (left and right sides separately)
8 = (1/4) C + 5
C/4 = 3
C = 12
Use either of the first equations to get B.
math - jason, Friday, February 15, 2008 at 2:43am
in B+4 = (3/4) (C+4) = (3/4) C + 3
B-4 = (1/2) (C-4) = (1/2) C - 2

may I ask where you got the +3 and -2?
- math - eg, Friday, February 15, 2008 at 3:50am
  the +3 comes from...
  (3/4)*(c+4)
  which is another way of saying
  ((3/4)*c)+(3/4*4)
  or
  3/4C+(12/4)
  3/4C+3
  
  The -2 comes from multiplying 1/2 *(c-4) which is 1/2C-4/2 or simply 1/2c-2
  - math - Anonymous, Friday, February 15, 2008 at 9:36am
    v
math - eg, Friday, February 15, 2008 at 3:48am
the +3 comes from...
(3/4)*(c+4)
which is another way of saying
((3/4)*c)+(3/4*4)
or
3/4C+(12/4)
3/4C+3

The -2 comes from multiplying 1/2 *(c-4) which is 1/2C-4/2 or simply 1/2c-2
math - Reiny, Friday, February 15, 2008 at 10:06am
these questions become easy if you organize your data in a chart form

------------Byte-----Cathy

Age now ---- b ------ c
in 4 yrs -- b+4 ---- c+4
4 yrs ago-- b-4 ---- c-4

so from second line: b+4 = 3/4(c+4)
from third line: b-4 = 1/2(c-4)

These two equations are now easy to simplify and solve giving you the answer provided by drwls above
math - Cathy's cat Byte, Friday, December 9, 2011 at 2:45am
BUTTCHEEKS!!!!!!!
math - Cathy's cat Byte, Friday, December 9, 2011 at 2:46am
BUTTCHEEKS!!!!!!!

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