document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=215895>Question 215895</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 #163080 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Earlsdon><B>Earlsdon(6294)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Earlsdon><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=163080\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let Z = Zelma's present age and S = her son's present age.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1) Z = S+18 \"Zelma (Z) is 18 years older than her son (S).\"<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2) Z-1 = 3(S-1) \"She was three times as old as he was one year ago.\"<BR>\n" );
document.write( "How old are they now?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Rewrite equation 2) as:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2a) Z = 3(S-1)+1 Simplify and substitute into equation 1)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2b) Z = 3S-3+1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2c) Z = 3S-2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1a) 3S-2 = S+18<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1b) 3S = S+20<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1c) 2S = 20<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1d) S = 10 This is her son's present age.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Z = S+18<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Z = 10+18<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Z = 28 This is Zelma's present age.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );