document.write( "Question 1122338: Sam is 15 years younger than his friend Ben. The total of their ages is 55 years.
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Algebra.Com's Answer #738450 by ikleyn(52781) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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document.write( "What the condition says is THIS:\r\n" );
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document.write( "Sam + Ben = 55,     (equation 1)    (\"The total of their ages is 55 years.\")\r\n" );
document.write( "Sam = Ben - 15.     (equation 2)    (\"Sam is 15 years younger than his friend Ben.\")\r\n" );
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document.write( "In other words (in Math symbols)\r\n" );
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document.write( "S + B = 55,    (1)\r\n" );
document.write( "S = B - 15.    (2)\r\n" );
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document.write( "Now substitute the expression (2) into equation (1), replacing S. You will get a single equation for B\r\n" );
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document.write( "(B-15) + B = 55.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Simplify and solve for B:\r\n" );
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document.write( "2B - 15 = 55  \r\n" );
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document.write( "2B = 55 + 15 = 70  ====>  B =  = 35.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Answer.  Ben is 35 years old.  Sam is  35 - 15 = 20 years old.\r\n" );
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