document.write( "Question 489767: Alvin is now four times as old as Benjamin. Five years ago, the sum of their ages was 45 years. How old is each now? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #333755 by josmiceli(19441) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Let $\"+a+\"$ = Alvin's age now
\n" ); document.write( "Let $\"+b+\"$ = Ben's age now
\n" ); document.write( "given:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+a+=+4b+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+a+-+5+%2B+b+-+5+=+45+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "By substitution:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+4b+-+5+%2B+b+-+5+=+45+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+5b+-+10+=+45+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+5b+=+55+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+b+=+11+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "and, since
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+a+=+4b+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+a+=+44+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Alvin is 44 now
\n" ); document.write( "Ben is 11 now \n" ); document.write( "

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