You can
put this solution on YOUR website!We'll let S be Ms. Santos' present age and V be Ms. Valdez's present age.
At present:
1) S + V = 50 The sum of their ages is 50.
19 years from now:
2) S + 19 = 2V In 19 years, Ms. Santos will be twice Ms. Valdez present age.
Rewrite equation 1) as:
V = 50 - S Multiply both sides by 2 because you want to get 2V.
2V = 2(50 - S) = 100 - 2S Now substitute this for the 2V in equation 2).
2) S + 19 = 100 - 2S Solve this for S. Add 2S to both sides.
3S + 19 = 100 Subtract 19 from both sides.
3S = 81 Finally, divide both sides by 3.
S = 27
Ms. Santos' present age is 27 years
V = 50 - S
V = 50 - 27
v = 23
Ms. Valdez's present age is 23 years.