document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=886264>Question 886264</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Omar is 4 years younger than Christopher. For the last two years, Christopher and Omar have been friends. Three years ago, Christopher was 3 times as old as Omar.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "How old is Christopher now? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #535869 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=535869\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> C = M + 4 [Omar is 4 years younger than Christopher.]<BR>\n" );
document.write( "C-3 = 3(M-3) [Three years ago, Christopher was 3 times as old as Omar.]<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Distribute<BR>\n" );
document.write( "C-3 = 3M-9<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Substitute the known value of C from the first equation into the second.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "C-3 = 3M-9<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(M+4)-3=3M-9<BR>\n" );
document.write( "M+1 = 3M - 9<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Subtract M from each side<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1 = 2M - 9<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Add 9 to each side<BR>\n" );
document.write( "10 = 2M<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Divide each side by 2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5 = M<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Omar is 5.  If Omar is 5, then Christopher is 4 years older, or 9.<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Prove it...<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\"Three years ago, Christopher was 3 times as old as Omar.\"<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Three years ago, Christopher was 6 (9-3).<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Three years ago, Omar was 2 (5-3)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "6 is indeed 3 times as many as 2.<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "\"For the last two years, Christopher and Omar have been friends.\"  This information is superfluous, and only in there to see if you are smart enough to ignore it.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );