Question

four friends were born in consecutive years. the sum of their ages is 62. what is the age of the oldest friend?

Answer 1

4 friends in consecutive years...x, x + 1, x + 2, x + 3

x + x + 1 + x + 2 + x + 3 = 62
4x + 6 = 62
4x = 62 - 6
4x = 56
x = 56/4
x = 14

x + 1 = 14 + 1 = 15
x + 2 = 14 + 2 = 16
x + 3 = 14 + 3 = 17

ages are : 14,15,16,17.....oldest is 17 <==

Answer 2

Answer

Find out the what is the age of the oldest friend .

To prove

As given

four friends were born in consecutive years.

Let us assume first friend age = x

Second friend age = x + 1

Third friend age = x + 2

Fourth friend age = x + 3

The sum of their ages is 62.

Than the equation becomes

x + x + 1 + x + 2 + x + 3 = 62

4x + 6 = 62

4x = 62 - 6

4x = 56

$x = \frac{56}{4}$

x = 14 years.

The oldest friend age = x + 3

                                   = 14 + 3

                                  = 17 years.

Therefore the  age of the oldest friend is 17 years.