document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1097525>Question 1097525</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The ages of John and Mary total 27 years. Mary's age plus twice John's age is 40. How old is each person?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "j+m = 27\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "m+2j = 40\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now I'm stuck... </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #711955 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><B>jim_thompson5910(35256)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><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=711955\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <font color=\"black\" face=\"times\" size=\"3\"><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Nice job so far on getting the correct equations set up. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let's solve the first equation for j<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Subtract 'm' from both sides to get...<BR>\n" );
document.write( "j+m = 27<BR>\n" );
document.write( "j+m-m = 27-m<BR>\n" );
document.write( "j = 27-m\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now we'll plug this into the second equation. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Essentially this means we replace every copy of 'j' with 27-m<BR>\n" );
document.write( "m + 2j = 40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "m + 2*( j ) = 40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "m + 2*( 27-m ) = 40 ... replace j with 27-m\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now we solve for m<BR>\n" );
document.write( "m + 2*( 27-m ) = 40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "m + 2*( 27 ) + 2*( -m ) = 40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "m + 54 - 2m = 40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1m - 2m + 54 = 40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-1m + 54 = 40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-1m + 54 - 54 = 40 - 54<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-1m = - 14<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-1m/(-1) = - 14/(-1)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "m = 14\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Use the value of m to get the value of j<BR>\n" );
document.write( "j = 27-m<BR>\n" );
document.write( "j = 27-14<BR>\n" );
document.write( "j = 13\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "In summary, we get m = 14 and j = 13 which means that<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<font color=red size=3>Mary is 14 years old. John is 13 years old.</font>\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "-------------------------------------------\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Check:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let's check the first equation<BR>\n" );
document.write( "j+m = 27<BR>\n" );
document.write( "13+14 = 27<BR>\n" );
document.write( "27 = 27<BR>\n" );
document.write( "that equation works\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Do the same for the second equation<BR>\n" );
document.write( "m+2*j = 40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "14+2*13 = 40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "14+26 = 40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "40 = 40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "that equation works as well\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The answer has been confirmed.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "</font> </SPAN>\n" );
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