document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=49146>Question 49146</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> How do you solve the following word problem?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Shirley is currently twice as old as HArry.  Four years ago, Shirley was 3 times as old as Harry.  How old were Shirley and Harry 4 years ago?  \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I can't remember how to solve the equation when there are two unknowns.  <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 #32580 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Paul><B>Paul(988)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-11.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Paul><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=32580\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Shirley's age = 2x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Hary's age = x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4 years ago Shirley's age was = 2x-4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Hary's age was = x-4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "EQUATION:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3(x-4)=2x-4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3x-12=2x-4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2(8)=16<BR>\n" );
document.write( "8-4=4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "16-4=12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Hence, SHirley was 12 years old, and Hary was 4 years old four years ago.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Paul. </SPAN>\n" );
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