document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=30227>Question 30227</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I'm such a dunce with Math that I'm not even sure if my question is an equation.  I have the following word problem.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Rick is 6 years older than Nick.  In 4 years he will be twice as old as Nick.  In 10 years Nick will be 2/3 Rick's age.  How old are each of them?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "By trial and error I solved the problem as 8 & 2.  I can present the problem as x = y + 4,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x + 4 = y + 4 + 4, and<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(x + 10)* 2 = (y + 10)* 3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Is there a mathmatical way to solve this? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #16924 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Fermat><B>Fermat(136)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-09.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Fermat><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=Fermat><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=16924\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let R represent the age of Rick.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let N represent the age of Nick.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Rick is 6 years older than Nick: this becomes,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "R = N + 6 -----------------------------------------(1)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "In 4 years he (Rick) will be twice as old as Nick: this becomes<BR>\n" );
document.write( "R+4 = 2*(N+4) ------------------------------------(2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "From (1), substitute for R = N + 6 into (2), giving<BR>\n" );
document.write( "N+6 + 4 = 2N + 8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "6+4-8 = 2N - N<BR>\n" );
document.write( "N = 2<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "R = N+6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "R = 8<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "You only really need the two statements. The third one is redundant. But you can use it to check out your answer.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "In 10 years Nick will be 2/3 Rick's age: this becomes<BR>\n" );
document.write( "N + 10 = (2/3)(R + 10)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2 + 10 =(2/3)(18)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "12 = 12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "lhs = rhs - ans checks out :)<BR>\n" );
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