document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1167875>Question 1167875</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Rita is 23, and joel is 15. How many years ago was rita 3 times as old joel?<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #792507 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=792507\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "You should know how to set up and solve this problem using formal algebra, as shown by the other tutor.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "However, you can get some good brain exercise and good practice in problem solving by solving the problem informally, using logical reasoning and simple arithmetic.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The difference in their ages is, and always will be, 8 years.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Given that age difference, when Rita was 3 times as old as Joel, mental arithmetic tells us Rita was 12 and Joel was 4.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Rita is now 23, so that was 23-12 = 11 years ago.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "ANSWER: 11 years<br><BR>\n" );
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