document.write( "Question 387104: John is two times older than Mary. Mary is three times younger than Steve. How old is Steve if he is 3 years older than John? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #273631 by josmiceli(19441)\"\" \"About 
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given:
\n" ); document.write( "(1) \"j+=+2m\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"s+=+3m\"
\n" ); document.write( "(3) \"s+=+j+%2B+3\"
\n" ); document.write( "This is 3 equations and 3 unknowns, so it's solvable
\n" ); document.write( "-------------
\n" ); document.write( "By substituting (1) into (2):
\n" ); document.write( "\"m+=+j%2F2\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"s+=+%283%2F2%29%2Aj\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"j+=+%282%2F3%29%2As\"
\n" ); document.write( "Put this into (3):
\n" ); document.write( "\"s+=+%282%2F3%29%2As+%2B+3\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"3s+=+2s+%2B+9\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"s+=+9\"
\n" ); document.write( "Steve is 9 years old
\n" ); document.write( "check answer:
\n" ); document.write( "\"j+=+%282%2F3%29%2As\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"j+=+%282%2F3%29%2A9\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"j+=+6\"
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( "\"j+=+2m\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"m+=+j%2F2\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"m+=+3\"
\n" ); document.write( "These values check OK
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" );