Let's solve the problem step-by-step.
1. Understanding the Problem:
- We are given that Cole's age is 18 years.
- We need to determine which equation accurately represents the age relationship between Cole and his sister Tina.
- We also need to find out how old Tina is.
2. Interpreting the Relationship:
- Cole's age (which is 18) is 3 years less than Tina's age.
- Mathematically, if Tina's age is [tex]\( t \)[/tex], then Cole's age can be expressed as [tex]\( t - 3 \)[/tex].
3. Setting Up the Equation:
- Given that Cole is 18 years old, we substitute his age into the equation:
[tex]\[
t - 3 = 18
\][/tex]
- This equation states that Tina’s age minus 3 equals Cole’s age of 18.
4. Solving the Equation:
- To solve for [tex]\( t \)[/tex], we need to isolate [tex]\( t \)[/tex] on one side of the equation:
[tex]\[
t - 3 = 18
\][/tex]
- Add 3 to both sides of the equation to solve for [tex]\( t \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[
t - 3 + 3 = 18 + 3
\][/tex]
- Simplifying yields:
[tex]\[
t = 21
\][/tex]
- Therefore, Tina is 21 years old.
5. Identifying the Correct Option:
- We have determined that the equation [tex]\( t - 3 = 18 \)[/tex] correctly describes the relationship.
- This matches Option A.
Thus, the correct response is:
A. The equation that represents this situation is [tex]\( t - 3 = 18 \)[/tex]. Tina is 21.
