document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=140752>Question 140752</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> zelma is eighteen years older than her son. she was three times as  old as he was one year ago. how old are they now? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #102470 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=ptaylor><B>ptaylor(2198)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=ptaylor><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=ptaylor><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=102470\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let x=her son's age now<BR>\n" );
document.write( "then x-1=her son's age one year ago\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x+18=Zelma's age now<BR>\n" );
document.write( "and x+17=Zelma's age 1 year ago\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now we are told the following:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "------she was three times as old as he was (her son) one year ago-----\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x+17=3(x-1)  get rid of parens (distributive)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x+17=3x-3  subtract 3x and also 17 from each side\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x+17-17-3x=3x-3x-3-17  collect like terms\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "-2x=-20 divide each side by -2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=10-------------------------------------her son's age now\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x+18=10+18=28---------------------------------Zelma's age now\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "CK<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-----------zelma is eighteen years older than her son-----<BR>\n" );
document.write( "10+18=28<BR>\n" );
document.write( "28=28<BR>\n" );
document.write( "------she was three times as old as he was (her son) one year ago-----\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "10+17=3(10-1)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "27=3*9<BR>\n" );
document.write( "27=27\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Hope this helps---ptaylor\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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