document.write( "Question 743329: The sum of the ages of a man and his wife is 73 years. Eight years ago the husband was twice as old as his wife. How old are they now? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #452998 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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The sum of the ages of a man and his wife is 73 years.
\n" ); document.write( "m + w = 73
\n" ); document.write( ":\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " Eight years ago the husband was twice as old as his wife.
\n" ); document.write( "m - 8 = 2(w-8)
\n" ); document.write( "m - 8 = 2w - 16
\n" ); document.write( "m - 2w = - 16 + 8
\n" ); document.write( "m - 2w = - 8
\n" ); document.write( "subtract from the 1st equation
\n" ); document.write( "m + w = 73
\n" ); document.write( "m - 2w = -8
\n" ); document.write( "-----------------subtraction eliminates m, find w
\n" ); document.write( "3w = 81
\n" ); document.write( "w = 81/3
\n" ); document.write( "w = 27 yrs is the wife's age
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "I'll let you find the man's age, check solutions in both equations\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " How old are they now? \n" ); document.write( "

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