SOLUTION: Four years ago man was six times as old as his son but in five years time he will be only three times as old as his son, what are their present ages

Question 1147767: Four years ago man was six times as old as his son but in five years time he will be only three times as old as his son, what are their present ages
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Write an equation for each statement, simplify
Four years ago man was six times as old as his son
m - 4 = 6(s - 4)
m - 4 = 6s - 24
m - 6s = -24 + 4
m - 6s = -20
but in five years time he will be only three times as old as his son,
m + 5 = 3(s + 5)
m + 5 = 3s + 15
m - 3s = 15 - 5
m - 3s = 10
Use elimination on these two equations
m - 3s = 10
m - 6s = -20
----------------subtraction eliminates m, find s
0 + 3s = 30
s = 30/3
s = 10 yrs is the son's present age
and
m - 3(10) = 10
m = 10 + 30
m = 40 yrs is Dad's age
:
:
Check this in the statement:
"Four years ago man was six times as old as his son"
40 - 4 = 6(10-4)
36 = 6(6)
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