document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1153882>Question 1153882</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Ben is six years younger than his sister.  After 10 years the sum of their ages will be 50.  What are their present ages? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #776203 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13200)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=greenestamps><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=776203\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "A solution without formal algebra -- using logical reasoning and simple arithmetic instead....<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "If the sum of their ages 10 years from now will be 50, then the sum now is 30.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "So the two ages are two whole numbers with a sum of 30 and a difference of 6.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "One way to solve this kind of problem quickly is to reason that the two numbers 15 and 15 have a sum of 30 but are the same; to get a sum of 30 with a difference of 6 between the two numbers, add 3 to one of the 15s and subtract 3 from the other -- giving you the numbers 18 and 12.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "ANSWER: Ben is 12; his sister is 18.<br><BR>\n" );
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