SOLUTION: Melinda's father Lester is 3 times as old as Melinda. Seven years ago, he was 4 times as old as Melinda. How old is each now?
I set it up like this:
3m = L
4m = L - 7
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Question 713798: Melinda's father Lester is 3 times as old as Melinda. Seven years ago, he was 4 times as old as Melinda. How old is each now?
I set it up like this:
3m = L
4m = L - 7 So 4m = 3m - 7
But then I get m = -7 Which makes no sense to me.
Please help
Answer by solver91311(24713) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The only way this works is if you left out some important words in the problem. It should have read "Melinda's father Lester is 3 times as old as Melinda. Seven years ago, he was 4 times as old as Melinda was seven years ago. How old is each now?
Then, presuming 
represents Lester's age now and 
represents Melinda's age now, you can say that Lester was 
seven years ago and Melinda was 
seven years ago. Hence:
and
\ =\ L\ -\ 7)
I'm guessing that you can handle it from here.
John
Egw to Beta kai to Sigma
My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
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