document.write( "Question 1154074: Steve is three and a half times as old as Robert. In 8 years, Robert’s age will be one half that of Steve’s. What are their present ages? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #776437 by Edwin McCravy(20055) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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document.write( "Solve by substitution.\r\n" );
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document.write( "You will get that Steve is 18 and 8 months and that Robert is 5 and 4 months.\r\n" );
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document.write( "That's a weird answer, going into months.  But it's correct.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Checking: \r\n" );
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document.write( "Steve [who is 18 years 8 months] is three and a half times as old as Robert [who\r\n" );
document.write( "is 5 years and 4 months]. \r\n" );
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document.write( "If you multiply Robert's age, 5 years and 4 months, by 3 1/2, you get 17 1/2\r\n" );
document.write( "years and 14 months. 17 1/2 years is 17 years and 6 months, so you get 17 years\r\n" );
document.write( "and 14+6 months or 20 months. That means that Steve's age is 17 years and 20\r\n" );
document.write( "months, which is 18 years and 8 months. That checks.\r\n" );
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document.write( "In 8 years, Robert’s age [which will be 13 years and 4 months] will be one half\r\n" );
document.write( "that of Steve's age [which will be 26 years and 8 months].  And indeed 13 years\r\n" );
document.write( "and 4 months is one half of 26 years and 8 months.\r\n" );
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document.write( "So it checks.  But their ages have to be taken to the month.  Or, maybe you\r\n" );
document.write( "copied a number wrong somewhere.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin

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