Hi, 

*Note: Tom was and will always be 4 years older than Jerry.

let x reprsent Jerry's age, then Tom's age is(x+4)



Nine years ago***

(x+4) = 5x

solving for x

4 = 4x

1 = x  Jerry's age nine years ago.

Now Jerry is 10 and Tom is 14



checking our answer

nine years ago, tom was 5 times as old as jerry was then

5 = 5*1 

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