SOLUTION: If James is 3 times the age of Eric, and 5 years ago James was 4 times the age of Eric how old are they each?

Question 147811: If James is 3 times the age of Eric, and 5 years ago James was 4 times the age of Eric how old are they each?
Answer by mangopeeler07(462) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
First set variables for James and Eric. Since James is 3 times the age of Eric, and 5 years ago James was 4 times the age of Eric, you would set up two equations. Let's say that Eric is e. Then your equations would be and . You can use the first equation and plug in that value for james in the second equation. Then it becomes . Then distribute on the right side . Add five to both sides and get . Then subtract 4e from both sides and get . cancel out the negatives and you are left with .

Eric=e and James=3e. Plug in 15 for e and you get Eric=15 and James=45.
To check, subtract 5 from each and get 10 and 40. Since 40 is 10(4), then our ages are correct. Eric=15 and James=45.
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