document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=147811>Question 147811</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 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? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #108196 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=mangopeeler07><B>mangopeeler07(462)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-10.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=mangopeeler07><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=108196\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 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 <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=james=3e ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"james=3e\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=james-5=4%28e-5%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"james-5=4%28e-5%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.  You can use the first equation <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=james=3e ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"james=3e\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and plug in that value for james in the second equation.  Then it becomes <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3e-5=4%28e-5%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3e-5=4%28e-5%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.  Then distribute on the right side <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3e-5=4e-20 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3e-5=4e-20\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.  Add five to both sides and get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3e=4e-15 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3e=4e-15\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.  Then subtract 4e from both sides and get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-e=-15 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-e=-15\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.  cancel out the negatives and you are left with <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=e=15 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"e=15\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Eric=e and James=3e.  Plug in 15 for e and you get Eric=15 and James=45.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "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. </SPAN>\n" );
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