document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=62307>Question 62307</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The average age of the Johnsons' cars is 8 years. Three years ago the Toyota was twice as old as the Ford. Two years ago the sum of the Buick's and the Ford's ages was equal to the age of the Toyota. How old is each car now?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Where do I start?  Any help is appreciated.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #43048 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=uma><B>uma(370)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-10.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=uma><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=43048\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let the age of Ford be x yrs.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So Ford's age 3 years ago = x - 3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The Toyota's age = 2(x-3)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Age of toyota 2 yrs ago = 2(x-3)+1\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Age of Ford 2 yrs ago = x-2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Thus age of BUick 2 yrs ago = 2(x-3)+ 1-(x-2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "                            = 2x - 6 + 1 - x + 2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "                            = x - 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Present age of Ford = x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Present age of Toyota = 2x - 3           [because 2(x-3)+1 +2]<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Present age of Buick = x - 1              [because x - 3 + 2]\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "sum of the ages of these cars = x + 2x - 3 + x - 1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "                              = 4x - 4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Average of these cars = (4x - 4)/3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "==> (4x-4)/3 = 8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "==> 4x - 4 = 24  [multiplying by 3 on either side]<BR>\n" );
document.write( "==> 4x - 4 + 4 = 24 + 4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "==> 4x = 28<BR>\n" );
document.write( "==> 4x/4 = 28/4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "==> x = 7\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "That is the age of Ford = 7 yrs\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Age of Toyota = 2x - 3 <BR>\n" );
document.write( "              = 2*7 - 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "              = 14 - 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "              = 11 yrs\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Age of Buick = x - 1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "             = 7 - 1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "             = 6 yrs\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Good Luck!!!<BR>\n" );
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