document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=598275>Question 598275</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The sum of the ages of a mother and her son is 26 years.  Five years hence, the mother's age will be five times the son's age.  what are their present ages? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #378528 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=math-vortex><B>math-vortex(648)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-11.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=math-vortex><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=math-vortex><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=378528\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Hi, there--<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "[I] Define your variables.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let m be the mother's present age.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let s be the son's present age.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "[II] Write equations showing the given relationships.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The phrase, \"the sum of the ages of the mother and her son,\" can be written as m+s. The sum is 26, so<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=m%2Bs=26 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"m%2Bs=26\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The phrase, \"five years hence, the mother's age\" or \"five years from now, the mother's age\" can be written as m+5. For the son, it would be s+5. Since the mother's age will be five times the son's age, the equation is<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=m%2B5=5%2A%28s%2B5%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"m%2B5=5%2A%28s%2B5%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Simplify this equation.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=m%2B5=5s%2B25 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"m%2B5=5s%2B25\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "[III] Solve the system of equations for m and s.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Rewrite the first equation in terms of m.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=m%2Bs=26 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"m%2Bs=26\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=m=26-s ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"m=26-s\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Substitute 26-s for m in the second equation.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=m%2B5=5s%2B25 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"m%2B5=5s%2B25\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%2826-s%29%2B5=5s%2B25 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%2826-s%29%2B5=5s%2B25\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Simplify and solve for s.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%2826-s%29%2B5=5s%2B25 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%2826-s%29%2B5=5s%2B25\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=31-s=5s%2B25 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"31-s=5s%2B25\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=31-s-5s=25 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"31-s-5s=25\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=31-6s=25 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"31-6s=25\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-6s=25-31 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-6s=25-31\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-6s=-6 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-6s=-6\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=s=1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"s=1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The equation s=1 means that the son's current age is 1 year old. The sum of their ages is 26, so the mother is 26-1=25 years old.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "[IV] Check your work<BR>\n" );
document.write( "How old will the mother be five years hence? 25+5=30 years old<BR>\n" );
document.write( "How old will the son be? 1+5=6 years old<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Will the mother be five times as old as the son? 6*5=30...YES!<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Their present ages are 1 and 25 years.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "That's it! Feel free to email if the solution is unclear.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Ms.Figgy<BR>\n" );
document.write( "math.in.the.vortex@gmail.com </SPAN>\n" );
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