document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=713798>Question 713798</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Melinda's father Lester is 3 times as old as Melinda. Seven years ago, he was 4 times as old as Melinda. How old is each now?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I set it up like this:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3m = L\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "4m = L - 7       So 4m = 3m - 7\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "But then I get m = -7   Which makes no sense to me.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Please help </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #438565 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=solver91311><B>solver91311(24713)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=solver91311><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=solver91311><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=438565\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"+2\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The only way this works is if you left out some important words in the problem.  It should have read \"Melinda's father Lester is 3 times as old as Melinda. Seven years ago, he was 4 times as old as Melinda <i><b>was seven years ago</b></i>. How old is each now?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Then, presuming <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE L\"> represents Lester's age now and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE m\"> represents Melinda's age now, you can say that Lester was <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE L\ -\ 7\"> seven years ago and Melinda was <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE m\ -\ 7\"> seven years ago.  Hence:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 3m\ =\ L\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "and\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 4(m\ -\ 7)\ =\ L\ -\ 7\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I'm guessing that you can handle it from here.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "John<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE e^{i\pi}\ +\ 1\ =\ 0\"><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<font face=\"Math1\" size=\"+2\">Egw to Beta kai to Sigma</font><BR>\n" );
document.write( "My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</font> </SPAN>\n" );
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