SOLUTION: A character is criticized for marrying a woman when he is 3 times her age. He wittily replies, "Ah but in 20 years time I shall only be twice her age." How old are the man and the

Algebra.Com
Question 710711: A character is criticized for marrying a woman when he is 3 times her age. He wittily replies, "Ah but in 20 years time I shall only be twice her age." How old are the man and the woman
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20056)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
M = 3W
M+20 = 2(W+20)

Simplify and solve that system by substitution 
and get W = 20, M = 60.

Checking: 60 is 3 times 20.  That checks.
In 20 years he will be 80 and she will be 40. 
80 is 2 times 40. That checks.

Edwin
RELATED QUESTIONS

In a film, a character is criticized for marrying a woman when he is three times her age. (answered by Cromlix)
A wealthy old man is criticized for marrying a woman for he is 3 times her age. He... (answered by Menjax)
In a film, actor Charles Coburn plays an elderly "uncle" character criticized for... (answered by msgmhenderson)
A wealthy old man is criticized for marrying a woman for he is three times her age. He... (answered by bucky)
A wealthy old man is criticized for marrying a woman for he is three times her age. He... (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)
In a film an actor plays an "uncle", he was being criticized for marrying a woman when he (answered by ikleyn)
INA FILM ACTOR CHARLES COBURN PLAYS AN ELDERLY UNCLE CHARACTER CRITIZIED FOR MARRYING A... (answered by Alan3354)
A man is three times a girls age. In 21 years, he will only be twice her age. How old are (answered by jim_thompson5910)
A woman is four times as old as her daughter, in five years time the square of her age... (answered by josgarithmetic,ikleyn)