document.write( "Question 705606: zelma is 18 years older than her son. She was three times as old as he was one year go. How old are they now \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #434645 by josmiceli(19441)\"\" \"About 
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Let \"+z+\" = Zelma's age now
\n" ); document.write( "Let \"+s+\" = her Son's age now
\n" ); document.write( "given:
\n" ); document.write( "(1) \"+z+=+s+%2B+18+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+z+-+1+=+3%2A%28+s+-+1+%29+\"
\n" ); document.write( "----------------------
\n" ); document.write( "Substitute (1) into (2)
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+s+%2B+18+-+1+=+3%2A%28+s+-+1+%29+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+s+%2B+17+=+3s+-+3+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+2s+=+20+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+s+=+10+\"
\n" ); document.write( "and, since
\n" ); document.write( "(1) \"+z+=+s+%2B+18+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(1) \"+z+=+10+%2B+18+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(1) \"+z+=+28+\"
\n" ); document.write( "28 = Zelma's age now
\n" ); document.write( "10 = her Son's age now
\n" ); document.write( "--------------------
\n" ); document.write( "check:
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+z+-+1+=+3%2A%28+s+-+1+%29+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+28+-+1+=+3%2A%28+10+-+1+%29+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+27+=+3%2A9+\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"+27+=+27+\"
\n" ); document.write( "OK
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