document.write( "Question 1145860: Scott is now 24 and Shannon is 12 years old. How many years ago was Scott 4 times as old as Shannon at that time? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #767145 by ikleyn(52781) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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document.write( "Do it directly, following to the condition description\r\n" );
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document.write( "Let x = \"How many years ago . . . \", which is exactly the value under the question.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Then you have the equation, directly from the condition\r\n" );
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document.write( "     = 4.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Multiply both sides by (12-x).  You will get\r\n" );
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document.write( "    24 - x = 4*(12-x)\r\n" );
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document.write( "    24 - x = 48 - 4x\r\n" );
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document.write( "    4x - x = 48 - 24\r\n" );
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document.write( "     3x    = 24\r\n" );
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document.write( "      x    = 24/3 = 8.\r\n" );
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document.write( "ANSWER.  8 years ago.\r\n" );
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document.write( "CHECK.   8 years ago Scott was 24-8 = 16 years old.\r\n" );
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document.write( "         8 years ago Shannon was 12-8 = 4 years old.\r\n" );
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document.write( "          = 4.     ! Precisely correct !\r\n" );
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "It is the Algebra way.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "It is what your teacher expects of you and how it should be done.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "And how you should do it.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Is everything clear to you in my solution ?\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If not, let me know by posting through the \"Thank you\" window (which is for students' comments).\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "In this case, please refer to the problem's ID number, which is 1145860.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If you do not refer to this number, I will not know to whom to answer.\r
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