The age of a tortoise is 52 years more than the combined age of two elephants. In 10 years, the tortoise will be twice as old as the two elephants combined. How old is the tortoise now?
+179 Let the age of the first elephant be a
Let the age of the second elephant be b
Let the age of the tortoise be x.
From the given information, we have
x = a + b + 52
x+10 = 2(a+10+b+10)
Simplifying both, we have x=a+b+52 and x+10 = 2(a+b)+40, x = 2(a+b) + 30.
Subtracting the two, we have a+b-22 = 0, so a+b = 22.
This means that x = a+b +52, or 22+52, or 74 years old.
