document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1009985>Question 1009985</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Rey is half as old as his cousin Ben and 3 years younger than his sister Susan. In 5 years, the sum of their age will be 72. How old is each now? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #628579 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=628579\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Call their ages now, r, b, and s.  Then we have<BR>\n" );
document.write( "r = (1/2)b  or  b = 2r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "r = s - 3   or  s = r + 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "We also have (in 5 years)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(r+5) + (b+5) + (s+5) = 72<BR>\n" );
document.write( "r + b + s + 15 = 72<BR>\n" );
document.write( "r + b + s = 57<BR>\n" );
document.write( "We can substitute in from above and get<BR>\n" );
document.write( "r + 2r + (r+3) = 57<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4r + 3 = 57<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4r = 54<BR>\n" );
document.write( "r = 13.5 years old<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = 2r = 27 years old<BR>\n" );
document.write( "s = r+3 = 16.5 years old </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );