Answer
4 years spent eating. 28 years spent sleeping.
Work Step by Step
Let $x$ be the number of years spent eating.
The number of years spent sleeping is then $x+24$.
The total number of years sleeping and eating is 32, so
$x+x+24=32$
Combine like terms.
$2x+24=32$
Use the addition property of equality to subtract 24 from both sides of the equation.
$2x+24-24=32-24$
Combine like terms.
$2x=8$
Use the multiplication property of equality to divide both sides of the equation by 2.
$2x\div2=8\div2$
Simplify.
$x=4$
4 years are spent eating.
$x+24=4+24=28$ years are spent sleeping.
