SOLUTION: Melissa's cousin is five years younger than she is. In 2 years, Melissa will be twice as old as her cousin. How old are they now?

Question 1130987: Melissa's cousin is five years younger than she is. In 2 years, Melissa will be twice as old as her cousin. How old are they now?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let m = Melissa's present age
let c = cousin's present age
:
Write an equation for each statement
:
Melissa's cousin is five years younger than she is.
m = c + 5
In 2 years, Melissa will be twice as old as her cousin.
m + 2 = 2(c+2)
m + 2 = 2c + 4
m = 2c + 4 - 2
m = 2c + 2
replace m with (c+5) from the first statement
c + 5 = 2c + 2
c - 2c = 2 - 5
-c = -3
c = 3 yrs is cousin's age
:
How old are they now?
Cousin is 3 and obviously, Melissa is 8
:
:
Check these solutions in the 2nd statement
" In 2 years, Melissa will be twice as old as her cousin."
8 + 2 = 2(3 + 2)
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