document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1101298>Question 1101298</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Joe is three years younger than Mike. Fred is four years younger than Mike. The sum of their ages is 29. How old is each person? </SPAN>\n" );
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document.write( "J = M-3  (1)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "F = M-4   (2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "M + F + J = 29  (3)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Substituting for J and F (one could go directly to the next step using the wording from the problem):<BR>\n" );
document.write( "M + (M-4) + (M-3) = 29 \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3M - 7 = 29<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3M = 36<BR>\n" );
document.write( " M = 12  —> J = 9   and  F = 8\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Ans: Mike is 12, Joe is 9, and Fred is 8.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Check:  12+9+8 = 21+8 = 29 \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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