SOLUTION: Pam is half as old as her brother Bill. Eight years ago Bill was six times as old as Pam. How old are they now?

Question 262839: Pam is half as old as her brother Bill. Eight years ago Bill was six times as old as Pam. How old are they now?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

let p = Pam's present age
let b = Bill's present age
:
Write an equation for each statement;
:
"Pam is half as old as her brother Bill."
p = .5b
:
" Eight years ago Bill was six times as old as Pam."
b - 8 = 6(p - 8)
b - 8 = 6p - 48
b = 6p - 48 + 8
b = 6p - 40
:
How old are they now?
Replace p with .5b in the above equation
b = 6(.5b) - 40
b = 3b - 40
40 = 3b - b
40 = 2b
b =
b = 20
:
I'll let you find Pam's age. Check your solutions in the 2nd statement.
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