A woman is 3 years older than her brother. If the sum of their ages is 27 years,

A woman is 3 years older than her brother. If the sum of their ages is 27 years, how old is the brother?

A woman is 3 years older than her brother. If the sum of their ages is 27 years, how old is the brother?

Correct Answer: 12

Step 1: Let the brother's age be represented by the variable x.
Step 2: Since the woman is 3 years older than her brother, we can express her age as x + 3.
Step 3: According to the problem, the sum of their ages is 27 years. We can write this as an equation: x + (x + 3) = 27.
Step 4: Simplify the equation: Combine like terms to get 2x + 3 = 27.
Step 5: To isolate the variable, subtract 3 from both sides of the equation: 2x = 27 - 3, which simplifies to 2x = 24.
Step 6: Now, divide both sides by 2 to solve for x: x = 24 / 2, which gives x = 12.
Step 7: Therefore, the brother's age is 12 years.

Algebraic Equations – The question tests the ability to set up and solve a simple algebraic equation based on relationships between ages.
Age Relationships – Understanding how to express age differences and sums in mathematical terms.