Question

Is the following situation possible? If so, determine their present ages.
The sum of the ages of two friends is 20 years. Four years ago, the product of their ages
in vears was 48.​

Answer 1

Answer:

Not possible

Step-by-step explanation:

Say the age of one friend is x years.

then the age of the other friend has to be (20 - x) years.

4 years ago:

Age of 1st friend = (x - 4) years

Age of 2nd friend = (20 - x - 4) = (16 - x) years

A/q:

(x - 4) (16 - x) = 48

16x - x2 - 64 + 4x = 48

 - x2 + 20x - 112 = 0

x2 - 20x + 112 = 0

If you compare it to ax2 + bx + c = 0, you would get

a = 1, b = -20 and c = 112 = b2 - 4ac

= (-20)2 - 4 × 112 which then = 400 - 448 = -48

b2 - 4ac < 0

This means there will be no real solution possible for the equations.