document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1013490>Question 1013490</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The three Smith children have a combined age of 50. The youngest is half as old as the oldest. Ten years ago, the oldest was 7 times as the youngest. How old were the children ten years ago? (3 answers)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #629771 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=629771\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The three Smith children have a combined age of 50. The youngest is half as old as the oldest. Ten years ago, the oldest was 7 times as the youngest. How old were the children ten years ago? (3 answers) <BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a + b + c = 50<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a = (1/2)c<BR>\n" );
document.write( "c-10 = 5(a-10)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Using the last two equations:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2a-10 = 5a-50<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3a = 40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a = 13 1/3 yrs<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Then c = 2a = 26 2/3<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Substitue into the 1st to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "13 1/3 + b + 26 2/3 = 50<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "b + 40 = 50<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = 10 yrs<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H.<BR>\n" );
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