document.write( "Question 278836: Paul's father is 2 years older than his mother. Paul's age is one third his father's age. When Paul was born, the sum of his parent's age was 42. How old are Paul's parents now? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #202942 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)\"\" \"About 
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Paul's father is 2 years older than his mother.
\n" ); document.write( " Paul's age is one third his father's age.
\n" ); document.write( " When Paul was born, the sum of his parent's age was 42.
\n" ); document.write( " How old are Paul's parents now?
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "Let f = father's present age
\n" ); document.write( "Let m = mother's present age
\n" ); document.write( "Let p = paul's present age
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "\"Paul's father is 2 years older than his mother.\"
\n" ); document.write( "f = m - 2
\n" ); document.write( "or
\n" ); document.write( "m = f + 2
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "\"Paul's age is one third his father's age.\"
\n" ); document.write( "p = \"1%2F3\"f
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "\" When Paul was born, the sum of his parent's age was 42.\"
\n" ); document.write( "(f-p) + (m-p) = 42
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "In the above equation, replace p with \"1%2F3\"f and m with (f+2)
\n" ); document.write( "(f - \"1%2F3\"f) + (f+2) - (\"1%2F3\"f) = 42
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "\"2%2F3\"f + f + 2 - \"1%2F3\"f = 42
\n" ); document.write( ";
\n" ); document.write( "\"2%2F3\"f + f - \"1%2F3\"f = 42 - 2
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "\"2%2F3\"f + f - \"1%2F3\"f = 40
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "\"2%2F3\"f + \"2%2F3\"f = 40
\n" ); document.write( "multiply by 3:
\n" ); document.write( "2f + 2f = 3(40)
\n" ); document.write( "4f = 120
\n" ); document.write( "f = \"120%2F4\"
\n" ); document.write( "f = 30 yrs
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( "m = 32
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "Father is 30, mother is 32
\n" ); document.write( ";
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "Check solution by finding P's age
\n" ); document.write( "\"1%2F3\"(30) = 10 yrs is Paul,s age
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "Check solution in the statement:
\n" ); document.write( "\"\" When Paul was born, the sum of his parent's age was 42.\"
\n" ); document.write( "(30-10) + (32-10) = 42 \n" ); document.write( "
\n" );