The difference between the ages of two friends is 2 years. The sum of their ages is 74 years. Find the age of the older friend.
Define a variable ** Let X be the age of the older friend.
How old is the younger friend? ** The younger friend is X-2 years old.
Write an equation ** So, the age of both is X + (X-2) = 74.
Simplify ** X + X = 74 + 2.
Simplify ** 2 * X = 76.
How old is the older friend? ** Then, the older friend is X = <<38=38>>38 years old.
#### 38