document.write( "Question 498510: James is now three-fifths John's age. Three years ago, he was half John's age. Three years from now, he will be two-thirds John's age. How old are they now?
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Algebra.Com's Answer #338047 by Maths68(1474)\"\" \"About 
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Let
\n" ); document.write( "Present age of John = j
\n" ); document.write( "Present age of James = m
\n" ); document.write( "James is now three-fifths John's age
\n" ); document.write( "m=(3/5)j
\n" ); document.write( "m=3j/5 ........(1)
\n" ); document.write( "Three years ago means we have to subtract 3 from their present ages
\n" ); document.write( "m-3=j-3
\n" ); document.write( "then he was half John's age
\n" ); document.write( "m-3=1/2(j-3)
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply by 2 both sides of above equation
\n" ); document.write( "2(m-3)=j-3
\n" ); document.write( "2m-6=j-3
\n" ); document.write( "j-3=2m-6
\n" ); document.write( "j=2m-6+3
\n" ); document.write( "j=2m-3 ............(2)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Put the value of m from (1) to (2)
\n" ); document.write( "j=2m-3 ............(2)
\n" ); document.write( "j=2(3j/5)-3
\n" ); document.write( "j=6j/5 - 3
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply by 5 both sides of the equation
\n" ); document.write( "5j=6j - 15
\n" ); document.write( "5j-6j=-15
\n" ); document.write( "-j=-15
\n" ); document.write( "j=15
\n" ); document.write( "Put the value of j in (1)
\n" ); document.write( "m=(3/5)j
\n" ); document.write( "m=(3/5)(15)
\n" ); document.write( "m=45/5
\n" ); document.write( "m=9
\n" ); document.write( "Present age of John = 15
\n" ); document.write( "Present age of James = 9\r
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