document.write( "Question 668766: A's age is two years less than three times that of B. Eight years ago the sum of their ages was 42. How old is A? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #415893 by amazingrace333(11)\"\" \"About 
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So we know that A's age = 3 times B's age - 2 years or
\n" ); document.write( "A = 3B - 2
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( "A's age minus 8 yrs + B's age minus 8 yrs = 42 or
\n" ); document.write( "A-8 + B-8 = 42\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Simplify and solve for only one variable:
\n" ); document.write( "A + (-8) + B + (-8) = 42
\n" ); document.write( "Combine likes:
\n" ); document.write( "A + B + (-16) = 42
\n" ); document.write( "Simplify:
\n" ); document.write( "A + B = 42 + 16
\n" ); document.write( "A + B = 58
\n" ); document.write( "A = 58 - B\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Substitute 58-B for A in our original equation and solve:
\n" ); document.write( "58-B = 3B-2
\n" ); document.write( "58 - B + 2 = 3B - 2 + 2
\n" ); document.write( "60 - B = 3B
\n" ); document.write( "60 -B +B = 3B + B
\n" ); document.write( "60 = 4B
\n" ); document.write( "60/4 = 4B/4
\n" ); document.write( "15 = B
\n" ); document.write( "Therefore, A = 58 - 15 or 43\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Check your answer:
\n" ); document.write( "A's age of 43 = 3 x B's age -2 yrs or 3(15)-2 or 45-2 which is 43\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So, A is 43 years old and B is 15 years old. \n" ); document.write( "
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