document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=419287>Question 419287</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Ann and Bill are both celebrating their birthday today. Two years from now Ann will be twice as old as Bill, while 3 years ago Ann was three times as old as Bill. How old is Bill now? \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #293251 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=duckness73><B>duckness73(47)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-07.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=duckness73><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=duckness73><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=293251\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let a = Ann's age today<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let b = Bill's age today\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "We know that in two years (when Ann is a + 2 and Bill is b + 2) that Ann will be twice Bill's age, that is:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a + 2 = 2(b + 2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Simplifying this equation, we have:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a + 2 = 2 b + 4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a = 2b + 2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "We know that three years ago (when Ann was a - 3 and Bill was b - 3) that Ann was three times Bill's age, that is:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a - 3 = 3(b - 3)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Simplifying this equation, we have:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a - 3 = 3b - 9<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a = 3b - 6\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Putting the two equations together, we have:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2b + 2 = 3b - 6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2 = b - 6 (subtracting 2b from both sides)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "8 = b  (adding 6 to both sides)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So today, Bill is 8 and Ann is 18.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Answer:  Bill is 8 today. </SPAN>\n" );
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