document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=427683>Question 427683</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A boy is twice as old as his brother - 4 years ago he was 3 times as old as his brother. What are their present ages? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #297443 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jorel1380><B>jorel1380(3719)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jorel1380><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=jorel1380><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=297443\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> If boy X is twice as old as his brother Y right now, then X = 2Y.  Four years ago he was three times as old as his brother, so X - 4=3(Y - 4).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "X-4 = 3(Y-4)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "X-4 = 3Y-12\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If X=2Y, then<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2Y-4=3Y-12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2Y+8=3Y<BR>\n" );
document.write( "8=Y\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The brother is now 8 years old, and the boy is 2(8) or 16 years old. </SPAN>\n" );
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