SOLUTION: In January of the year 2000, my husband John was 11 times as old as my son william. In January of 2012, he will be three times as old as my son. How old was my son in January of 20

Question 176700: In January of the year 2000, my husband John was 11 times as old as my son william. In January of 2012, he will be three times as old as my son. How old was my son in January of 2000?
Can you show me step by step to solve it in a system of equations?
Answer by Earlsdon(6294) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let J = the age of your husband, John, in 2000 and let W = the age of your son, William in 2000.
From the problem description, you can write:
In 2000:
"...John was 11 times as old as...William."
12 years later in 2012, when both of them are 12 years older, you can say:
Simplifying this, we get:
Now we substitute, from above,
Subtract 3W form both sides of this equation.
Now subtract 12 from both sides.
Finally, divide both sides by 8.

Your son was 3 years old in 2000.

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