SOLUTION: How can I solve this? pls. help! Marie is twelve years older than her brother Ben. Four years from now, Ben will be two-thirds as old as Marie. How old is Ben now?

Question 205935: How can I solve this? pls. help!
Marie is twelve years older than her brother Ben. Four years from now, Ben will be two-thirds as old as Marie. How old is Ben now?
Answer by checkley77(12844) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let Ben's age be=x & Marie's age be=(x+12)
In 4 years Ben's age will be (x+4 )
In 4 years Marie's age will be (x+16)
So: (x+4)=2/3(x+16)
(x+4)=(2x+32)/3
3(x+4)=2x+32
3x+12=2x+32
3x-2x=32-12
x=20 years old is Ben now.
20+12=32 years old is Marie now.
Proof:
20+4=2/3(20+16)
24=2/3*36
24=72/3
24=24

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