SOLUTION: A man is 2 years older than his sister. Thirty years ago he was 3 times as old as her. How old is the man now?

Question 906545: A man is 2 years older than his sister. Thirty years ago he was 3 times as old as her. How old is the man now?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A man is 2 years older than his sister.
Thirty years ago he was 3 times as old as her.
How old is the man now?
;
let m = the man's age
let s = the sisters' age
:
Write an equation for each statement
:
"A man is 2 years older than his sister.'
m = s + 2
:
" Thirty years ago he was 3 times as old as her."
m - 30 = 3(s - 30)
m - 30 = 3s - 90
m = 3s - 90 + 30
m = 3s - 60
Replace m with (s+2), from the 1st statement
s + 2 = 3s - 60
2 + 60 = 3s - s
62 = 2s
s = 62/2
s = 31 yrs is the sister's age
then
m = 31 + 2
m = 33 is the man's age
:
:
Confirm this using the statement:
"Thirty years ago he was 3 times as old as her."
33 - 30 = 3(31 - 30)
3 = 3(1)

RELATED QUESTIONS
A man is 2 years older than his sister. Thirty years ago he was 3 times as old as her.... (answered by JulietG)

A man is 32 years older than his son,ten years ago he was 3 times as old as his son.find... (answered by Susan-math)

Mary is 2 years older than Ed, and 3 years ago Mary was twice as old as Ed. Find their... (answered by ikleyn)

Four years ago a man was 2 and a 1/2 times as old as his son, but in five years time, he... (answered by josgarithmetic,MathTherapy,ikleyn)

A man is 45 years old. 12 years ago, he was three times as old as his daughter. How old... (answered by josmiceli)

A man is four times as old as his daughter. Six years ago he was ten times as old as his... (answered by Alan3354,josgarithmetic)

If shuanais now 4 years older than her sister. Two years ago, shuanais was three times as (answered by fractalier)

Five years ago, a man was five times older than his dog. Today, he is only three times as (answered by Alan3354)

a man is 24 years older than is son 12 years ago he was 5 times as old as his son. find... (answered by josgarithmetic)