document.write( "Question 174419: 8 years ago,melanie waz half as old as she will be in 3 years. How old is she presently? please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #129392 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x=Melanie's age now, y=Melanie's age 8 years ago, and z=Melanie's age in 3 years\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So this means that \"y=x-8\" and \"z=x%2B3\" (by definition)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Since \"8 years ago,melanie waz half as old as she will be in 3 years\", this tells us that \"y=%281%2F2%29z\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y=%281%2F2%29z\" Start with the given equation.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x-8=%281%2F2%29%28x%2B3%29\" Plug in \"y=x-8\" and \"z=x%2B3\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"2%28x-8%29=x%2B3\" Multiply both sides by 2.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"2x-16=x%2B3\" Distribute.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"2x=x%2B3%2B16\" Add \"16\" to both sides.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"2x-x=3%2B16\" Subtract \"x\" from both sides.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=3%2B16\" Combine like terms on the left side.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=19\" Combine like terms on the right side.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Answer:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the answer is \"x=19\" which means that she is currently 19 years old\r
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