Question

Alger is 7 years younger than abegail and the product of their age is 144.how old is each?

Answer 1

Abegail --- x years
Alger ---- x-7 years

x(x-7) = 144
x^2 - 7x - 144 = 0

(x - 16)(x + 9) = 0
x = 16 or x = -9, the last does not make sense.

sub back in my definitions

Answer 2

If Alger is x, then Abigail is x+7. So, just solve for x in

x(x+7) = 144

Note that 144 = 9*16