The combined age of two people is 91. Person A is twice as old as person B was when Person A was as old as Person B is now. How old is each person? >>...The combined age of two people is 91...<< Translation into algebra: A + B = 91 >>...Person A is twice as old as person B was when Person A was as old as Person B is now...<< Do a little bit of rewording in terms of "X years ago", and make these two new sentences from it: >>...Person A is twice as old as person B was X years ago...<< >>...X years ago was when Person A was as old as Person B is now...<< Taking the first new sentence: >>...Person A is twice as old as person B was X years ago...<< X years ago, B wsa B-X, so A = 2(B-X) Taking the second : >>...X years ago Person A was as old as Person B is now...<< X years ago, A was A-X. So A-X = B So we have three equations and 3 unknowns: A + B = 91 A = 2(B-X) A-X = B Can you solve that system of equations? If not post again. Answer: A = 52, B = 39, X = 13 Checking: Their combined age is 91. 52+39 = 91. That checks >>...Person A is twice as old as person B was X years ago...<< 13 years ago B was 39-13 or 26, and A is 52 which is twice that. That checks. >>...X years ago Person A was as old as Person B is now...<< 13 years ago Person A was 52-13 or 39, and that's how old Person B is now, so that checks. Edwin AnlytcPhil@aol.com