Solution:
Let y= the total no. of the years in Lacey's age
Since the question establishes Victoria as being older than Lacey by 4 years,
Let y+4 = the total no. of the years of Victoria's age
We know that Lacey receives $20 on her birthday as well as $4 for every year of her age
So the total amount she would receive on her birthday is = $20 + $4y
We know that Victoria receives $30 on her birthday as well as $2 for every year of her age
So the the total amount she would receive on her birthday is = $30 + $2(y+4)
Now we want to know how much money Victoria and Lacey would receive individually if both received the same amount of money.
To do this, we make the total money received by Victoria = to that received by Lacey and vice versa
So,
$20 + $4y = $30 + $2(y+4)
20 + 4y = 30 + 2y + 8
2y = 18 y = 9
So, Lacey will be 9 years old when she receives the same amount of money as Victoria and Victoria will be 9+4 = 13 years old when she receives the same amount of money as Lacey.
Now, in 2013 Lacey is 6 and Victoria is 10. In 3 years time, Lacey will be 9 and Victoria will be 10.
Therefore the year in which they both receive the same amount of money will be 2016
