(a) Simplify : \(\frac{1}{3^{5n}} \times 9^{n - 1} \times 27^{n + 1}\)
(b) The sum of the ages of a woman and her daughter is 46 years. In 4 years' time, the ratio of their ages will be 7 : 2. Find their present ages.
(a) \(\dfrac{1}{3^{5n}}\times 9^{n-1}\times 27^{n+1}\). Convert everything to base 3:
\(9^{n-1}=3^{2(n-1)}=3^{2n-2}\); \(27^{n+1}=3^{3(n+1)}=3^{3n+3}\); \(\dfrac{1}{3^{5n}}=3^{-5n}\).
Add exponents: \(-5n+(2n-2)+(3n+3)= (-5n+2n+3n)+(-2+3)=0+1=1\).
Result \(=3^{1}=\mathbf{3}\).
(b) Let woman \(=w\), daughter \(=d\). \(w+d=46\).
In 4 years: \(\dfrac{w+4}{d+4}=\dfrac{7}{2}\Rightarrow 2(w+4)=7(d+4)\Rightarrow 2w+8=7d+28\Rightarrow 2w-7d=20\).
Substitute \(w=46-d\): \(2(46-d)-7d=20\Rightarrow 92-9d=20\Rightarrow 9d=72\Rightarrow d=8\), \(w=38\).
Woman is 38 years, daughter is 8 years. Check: in 4 years \(42:12=7:2\). \(\checkmark\)