document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=978540>Question 978540</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> How would you solve this? Mary is presently 12 years older than her sister. Four years ago she was twice as old. How old are they now?  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #599900 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=599900\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> How would you solve this? Mary is presently 12 years older than her sister. Four years ago she was twice as old. How old are they now? <BR>\n" );
document.write( "--------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Equations:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "m = s + 12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "m-4 = 2(s-4)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Substitute for \"m\" and solve for \"s\":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "s+12-4 = 2s-8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "s = 16 yrs (sister's age now)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Solve for \"m\"::<BR>\n" );
document.write( "m = s + 12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "m = 16+12 = 28 yrs (Mary's age now)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-----------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "----------- </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );