document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=54443>Question 54443</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> John is 5 years older than AL. Two years ago the product of their ages was 30 less than it is now. How old are they now? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #36693 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><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=36693\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> John is 5 years older than AL. Two years ago the product of their ages was 30 less than it is now. How old are they now?<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "NOW Data:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let Al be \"x\" yrs. old.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Then John is \"x+5\" yrs. old.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "TWO YEARS AGO DATA:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Al was \"x-2\" yrs. old.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "John was \"x+3\" yrs. old.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "EQUATION;<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(x-2)(x+3)=?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Here the problem becomes ambiguous.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "It says \"Two years ago the product of <BR>\n" );
document.write( "their ages was 30 less than WHAT is now.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Is WHAT the product now?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Is WHAT the sum now?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "What is WHAT?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );