J = James' age

Y = Joy's age



J = 3Y             (1)  from "James is 3 times as old as Joy."

J-3 = 4(Y-3)       (2)  from "Three years ago, he was four times as old as Joy."



Substitute 3Y from (1) for J in (2):

3Y-3 = 4(Y-3)

3Y-3 = 4Y-12

  Y = 9  ==>  J = 27





Ans: Joy is 9, James is 27



Check:  James should be 3*Joy's age:  27 = 3*9  (ok)

    and three years ago he should have been 4*Joy's age:  27-3 = 24,  which is 4*6,  and Joy was 9-3=6  (ok)



 

Answer by ikleyn(52908)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
 .





Three years ago, he  . . . 





Not  . . . 







 

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