document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1052923>Question 1052923</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Hello.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "I have been struggling with a question for a while and I am getting frustrated. The question is: \"The sum of the ages of John and Mary is 32. Four years ago, John was twice as old as Mary. Find the present age of each.\"\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I have tried sum of 32, then divide by 2 = 16. Then 16 - 4 = 12 and then I get stuck. Please can you help? Thank you :) </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #668236 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=addingup><B>addingup(3677)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=addingup><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=addingup><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=668236\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The sum of the ages:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "J+M = 32 Subtract M on both sides<BR>\n" );
document.write( "J = 32-M (1)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Four years ago John was 2*Mary:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "J-4 = 2(M-4) (2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "In equation (2) substitute the value of J per (1):<BR>\n" );
document.write( "32-M-4 = 2M-8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "28-M = 2M-8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "36-M = 2M<BR>\n" );
document.write( "36 = 3M flip the equation so we have the unknown of the left<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3M = 36 divide both sides by 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "M = 12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "and J = 32-M = 32-12 = 20<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Check<BR>\n" );
document.write( "20-4 = 2(12-4)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "16 = 16 correct </SPAN>\n" );
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