Let x be the age of Jack, and y the age of Priscilla.
"Jack was 12 years old than Priscilla" can be represented by x = y+12.
"Their ages totaled 160 years" can be represented by x + y = 160.
We can now create a system:
x = y + 12 (1)
x + y = 160 (2)
We got the value of x from the first equation. So let's replace x by its value in the second equation:
x + y = 160
y + 12 + y = 160
2y + 12 = 160
Subtract 12 from each side:
2y = 148
Divide both sides by 2 to get the value of y:
y = 74.
In the first equation, let's replace y by it's value:
x = 12 + y
x = 12 + 74
x = 86.
So Jack was 82 years old, and Priscilla was 74 years old.
You can re-check your answer (very important):
x + y = 74 + 86 = 160 (their ages total 160 years)
y + 12 = 74 + 12 = 86 (Jack is 12 years old than Priscilla)
The answer has been approved.
Hope this Helps! :)
