SOLUTION: please help me with the question: scott is now 24 and shannon is 12 years old. how many years ago was scott 4 times as old as shannon was at that time?

Question 152560: please help me with the question: scott is now 24 and shannon is 12 years old. how many years ago was scott 4 times as old as shannon was at that time?
Found 2 solutions by jim_thompson5910, scott8148:
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The word problem translates into this equation

where x is the number of years ago that scott was 4 times as old as shannon

Start with the given equation.

Distribute.

Subtract from both sides.

Add to both sides.

Combine like terms on the left side.

Combine like terms on the right side.

Divide both sides by to isolate .

Reduce.

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Answer:

So the answer is which means that 8 years ago scott was 4 times as old as shannon
Answer by scott8148(6628) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let n="number of years ago"

(24-n)/(12-n)=4 __ multiplying by 12-n __ 24-n=48-4n __adding 4n-24 __ 3n=24 __ dividing by 3 __ n=8
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