document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1004198>Question 1004198</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Marie is 9 years older than her brother Richard. Six years ago Richard was 1/2 as old as Marie. 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 #620825 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=fractalier><B>fractalier(6550)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=fractalier><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=fractalier><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=620825\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Call their ages NOW, m and r.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "From the facts we have<BR>\n" );
document.write( "m = r + 9<BR>\n" );
document.write( "r - 6 = (1/2)(m - 6)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "We can substitute the first equation into the second and simplify...we get<BR>\n" );
document.write( "r - 6 = (1/2)(r + 9 - 6)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "r - 6 = (1/2)(r + 3)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "r - 6 = (1/2)r + 3/2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Collecting like terms<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(1/2)r = 6 + 3/2 = 15/2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "r = 15<BR>\n" );
document.write( "which means that<BR>\n" );
document.write( "m = 24 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );