document.write( "Question 867858: James is 5 years older than Jennifer. Three years ago the product of their ages was 36 less than the product of their present ages. Find Jennifer's age. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #523236 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)\"\" \"About 
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Let a = James's present age
\n" ); document.write( "Let j = Jennifer's present age
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\n" ); document.write( "Write an equation for each statement
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\n" ); document.write( "James is 5 years older than Jennifer.
\n" ); document.write( "a = j + 5
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\n" ); document.write( " Three years ago the product of their ages was 36 less than the product of their present ages.
\n" ); document.write( "(a-3)*(j-3) = a*j - 36
\n" ); document.write( "FOIL
\n" ); document.write( "aj - 3a - 3j + 9 = aj - 36
\n" ); document.write( "subtract aj from both sides
\n" ); document.write( "-3a - 3j = -36 - 9
\n" ); document.write( "mult by -1 get rid of all those negatives
\n" ); document.write( "3a + 3j = 45
\n" ); document.write( "replace a with (j+5) from the 1st statement
\n" ); document.write( "3(j+5) + 3j = 45
\n" ); document.write( "3j + 15 + 3j = 45
\n" ); document.write( "6j = 45 - 15
\n" ); document.write( "j = 30/6
\n" ); document.write( "j = 5 yrs is Jennifer's present age
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\n" ); document.write( "See if that checks out in the statement James is 10 yrs old
\n" ); document.write( "\"Three years ago the product of their ages was 36 less than the product of their present ages.\"
\n" ); document.write( "(10-3)(5-3) = 10*5 - 36
\n" ); document.write( "7 * 2 = 50 - 36: OK\r
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