document.write( "Question 668869: A man is three times as old as his son and six years ago the product of their age was 288. Find their present ages. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #415938 by ptaylor(2198)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x=son's age; x-6=son's age 6 years ago
\n" ); document.write( "Then 3x=father's age: 3x-6=father's age 6 years ago
\n" ); document.write( "Now we are told the following:
\n" ); document.write( "(x-6)(3x-6)=288 expand left side using FOIL
\n" ); document.write( "3x^2-6x-18x+36=288
\n" ); document.write( "3x^2-24x+36=288 divide each term by 3
\n" ); document.write( "x^2-8x+12=96 subtract 96 from each side
\n" ); document.write( "x^2-8x-84=0 quadratic in standard form and it can be factored
\n" ); document.write( "(x+6)(x-14)=0
\n" ); document.write( "x=-6----------------No good--can't have negative ages
\n" ); document.write( "x=14------------------son's present age
\n" ); document.write( "3x=42---------------------father's present age
\n" ); document.write( "CK
\n" ); document.write( "(14-6)(42-6)=288
\n" ); document.write( "8*36=288
\n" ); document.write( "288=288\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Hope this helps---ptaylor
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