document.write( "Question 40340: Thanks for the help. I've tried every equation I can think of and I haven't come up with a suitable answer.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Word Problem:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Brian's present age is one year more than twice Shelly's age. Five years ago, Brian was four times as old as Shelly. How old is Brian now? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #25761 by Earlsdon(6294)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let B = Brian's present age and S = Shelly's present age. From the problem description, we get:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "1) B = 2S+1 Brian's age is one year more (+1) than twice Shelly's age (2S).
\n" ); document.write( "2) B-5 = 4(S-5) Five years ago (-5) Brian was 4 times Shelly's age 4(S-5)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Substitute equation 1) into equation 2) and solve for S.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(2S+1)-5 = 4(S-5) Simplify.
\n" ); document.write( "2S-4 = 4S-20 Subtract 2S from both sides of the equation.
\n" ); document.write( "-4 = 2S-20 Add 20 to both sides.
\n" ); document.write( "16 = 2S Divide both sides by 2.
\n" ); document.write( "S = 8 This is Shelly's age.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "B = 2S+1
\n" ); document.write( "B = 2(8)+1
\n" ); document.write( "B = 16+1
\n" ); document.write( "B = 17 This is Brian's age.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Check:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "B = 2S+1
\n" ); document.write( "17 = 2(8)+1
\n" ); document.write( "17 = 17\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "B-5 = 4(S-5)
\n" ); document.write( "17-5 = 4(8-5)
\n" ); document.write( "12 = 4(3)
\n" ); document.write( "12 = 12\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "
\n" );