Question #759bc

1 Answer
Sep 16, 2016

#12#

Explanation:

Let #A# represent Rico's age. If we write out the process of adding #24# to #A#, then dividing by #2#, then subtracting #6#, and setting that result as equal to #A# in algebraic notation, we get

#A = (A+24)/2-6#

We now wish to solve for #A#. First, we use the fact that
#(a+b)/c = a/c+b/c#
(this is effectively using the distributive property on #1/c(a+b)#).

#A = A/2 + 24/2 - 6#

#=> A = A/2 + 12 - 6#

#=> A=A/2 + 6

Next, we gather all terms which include #A# on one side of the equation by subtracting #A/2# from both sides.

#A-A/2 = 6#

#=>A/2 = 6#

Finally, we multiply by #2# to remove the coefficient of #1/2# from the #A# term.

#A/2 * 2 = 6*2#

#=> A = 12#

It is also good practice to check the final answer by plugging it into the original problem:

#(12+24)/2-6 = 36/2-6 = 18-6 = 12#

As that checks out, we now know that Rico is #12#