document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=971816>Question 971816</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A boy is now two-thirds as old as his sister, and two years ago he was five-eighths as old as she was then. Find their present ages.   </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #594202 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=594202\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A boy is now two-thirds as old as his sister, and two years ago he was five-eighths as old as she was then. Find their present ages. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "---------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Equations:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = (2/3)s<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b-2 = (5/8)(s-2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "---------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Substitute and solve for \"s\"::<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2/3)s - 2 = (5/8)s - (10/8)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Multiply thru by 24 to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "16s - 48 = 15s - 30<BR>\n" );
document.write( "----<BR>\n" );
document.write( "s = 78 yrs (sister's age now)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "----<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Solve for \"b\":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = (2/3)s<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = (2/3)78<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = 52 yrs (boy's age now)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );