SOLUTION: Three years ago, Milcah is 3 times older than Joshua. 4 years from now, Milcah is 8 years older than Joshua. Find Joshua's and Milcah's age.

Question 104495: Three years ago, Milcah is 3 times older than Joshua. 4 years from now, Milcah is 8 years older than Joshua. Find Joshua's and Milcah's age.
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Three years ago, Milcah is 3 times older than Joshua. 4 years from now, Milcah is 8 years older than Joshua. Find Joshua's and Milcah's age.
:
M = M's age now
J = J's age now
:
Write what it says:
"Three years ago, Milcah is 3 times older than Joshua."
(M-3) = 3(J-3)
M - 3 = 3J - 9; multiplied what's inside the brackets
M = 3J - 9 + 3
M = (3J-6)
:
"4 years from now, Milcah is 8 years older than Joshua."
M+4 = (J+4) + 8
M + 4 = J + 12
M = J + 12 - 4
M = J + 8
:
Find Joshua's and Milcah's age.
Substitute (3J-6) for M in the above equation:
3J - 6 = J + 8
3J - J = 8 + 6
2J = 14
J = 14/2
J = 7 yrs; J's age now
:
Find M:
M = J + 8
M = 7 + 8
M = 15 yrs; M's age now
:
:
Check solution using the statement:
"Three years ago, Milcah is 3 times older than Joshua."
(15-3) = 3(7-3)
12 = 3(4); confirms our solution
RELATED QUESTIONS
Three years ago, Milcah is 3 times older than Joshua. 4 years from now, Milcah is 8 yrs.... (answered by TP)

John is 3 years older than Joshua. If Joshua is now x years old, what is John's... (answered by checkley77)

Joshua is one-third as old as his father who is three years older than his mother. When... (answered by lwsshak3,MathTherapy)

Ayaka is 12 years older than Joshua. Five years ago, the sum of their ages was 28. How... (answered by josgarithmetic,ikleyn)

Joshua is 57 years old. Rita is 29 years old. How many years ago was Joshua's age 3 times (answered by josgarithmetic)

Joshua is one-third as old as his father who is three years older than his mother. When... (answered by mananth)

Mario is 18 years older than Joshua. If the sum of their ages is 46, how old is each? (answered by TimothyLamb)

Adriana is 7 years older than Joshua. The product of their ages is 144. How old is... (answered by mananth)

joshua is 6 years old. his sister is 24 years older than him. Write a multiplication... (answered by CubeyThePenguin)