document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=830856>Question 830856</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> the sum of the ages of Petra and her mother is 53. her mother is 5 years more than twice as old as Petra.  How old are petra and her mother? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #500949 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=JulietG><B>JulietG(1812)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-12.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=JulietG><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=JulietG><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=500949\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let P be Petra's age.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let M be her mother's age.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Here's what we know from the question:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "P + M = 53<BR>\n" );
document.write( "M = 2P + 5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "We can substitute the value of M into the first equation:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "P + (2P+5) = 53<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Add<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3P + 5 = 53<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Subtract 5 from each side:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3P = 48<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Divide each side by 3:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "P = 16<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "If Petra is 16, then her mother must be 37 (53-16=37)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );