document.write( "Question 1134603: The combined ages of A and B are 48 years and A is twice as old as B was when A
\n" ); document.write( "was half as old as B will be when B is three times as old as A was when A was
\n" ); document.write( "three times as old as B was then. how old is B? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #752100 by AnlytcPhil(1806)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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document.write( "Note: the answer posted before which is now deleted was in error.\r\n" );
document.write( "Here is the correct solution:\r\n" );
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document.write( "Let x be the number of years in the past the first time.\r\n" );
document.write( "Let y be the number of years in the future the second time.\r\n" );
document.write( "Let z be the number of years in the past the third time. \r\n" );
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document.write( "A+B=48\r\n" );
document.write( "A = 2(B-x)\r\n" );
document.write( "A-x = (1/2)(B+y)  \r\n" );
document.write( "B+y = 3(A-z)\r\n" );
document.write( "A-z = 3(B-z)\r\n" );
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document.write( "Those equations simplified and arranged in columns of like terms\r\n" );
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document.write( "  A +  B               = 48\r\n" );
document.write( "  A - 2B + 2x          = 0\r\n" );
document.write( " 2A -  B - 2x - y      = 0 \r\n" );
document.write( "-3A +  B      + y + 3z = 0\r\n" );
document.write( "  A - 3B          + 2z = 0\r\n" );
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document.write( "The solution by the augmented matrix method is\r\n" );
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document.write( "A=30, B=18, C=3, D=36, E=12.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin
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