document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=509268>Question 509268</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> What is the equation for the problem \"John is 3 times as old as Martha.  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Five years ago the sum of their ages was 46.  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "How old are they now?\"<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #341375 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=nerdybill><B>nerdybill(7384)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=nerdybill><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=nerdybill><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=341375\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> What is the equation for the problem \"John is 3 times as old as Martha.  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Five years ago the sum of their ages was 46.  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "How old are they now?\"<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let m = Martha's age<BR>\n" );
document.write( "then from \"John is 3 times as old as Martha\":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3m = John's age<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "From:\"Five years ago the sum of their ages was 46\"<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(m-5) + (3m-5) = 46<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4m-10 = 46<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4m = 56<BR>\n" );
document.write( "m = 14 years old (Martha)<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "John:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3m = 3(14) = 42 years old<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );