SOLUTION: How do you set up this word problem (& others like it)?
A mother is eighteen years older than her son. She was three times as old as he was one year ago. How old are they now?
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Question 240097: How do you set up this word problem (& others like it)?
A mother is eighteen years older than her son. She was three times as old as he was one year ago. How old are they now?
Answer by solver91311(24713) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let 
represent the mother's age. Let 
represent the son's age. Then the first thing we know is:
One year ago, mother was 
, and the son was 
, and the second thing we know is:
)
Now you have two 2-variable linear equations. Solve the system. The ordered pair )
will give you your answers.
John
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