document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=431459>Question 431459</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> if John is 3 times older than Mary and there is a 24 year difference in their ages, how old are they? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #299419 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=htmentor><B>htmentor(1343)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-12.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=htmentor><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=htmentor><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=299419\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let J = John's age<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let M = Mary's age<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Given:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "J = 3M<BR>\n" );
document.write( "J - M = 24<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Substitute the value for J in the 2nd equation:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3M - M = 24<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Solving for M gives M = 12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Therefore J = 3*12 = 36<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Ans: John = 36 yrs old, Mary = 12 yrs old </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );