document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1168152>Question 1168152</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> In three years, Sheena will be three times as old as her sister Melona, a year ago, Sheena was seven times as old as Melona. How old are they now? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #792766 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><B>Theo(13342)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><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=Theo><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=792766\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> let s = sheela's current age.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "let m = melona's current age.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "in 3 years, sheena will be 3 times as old as her sister melona.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "equation for that is s + 3 = 3 * (m + 3)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a year ago, sheena was 7 times as old as melona.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "equation for that is s - 1 = 7 * (m - 1)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "solve for s in both equations to get:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "s = 3 * (m + 3) - 3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "s = 7 * (m - 1) + 1\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "simplify each equation to get:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "s = 3 * m + 9 - 3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "s = 7 * m - 7 + 1\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "combine like terms in each equation to get:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "s = 3 * m + 6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "s = 7 * m - 6\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "subtract the first equation from the second to get:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "0 = 4 * m - 12\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "add 12 to both sides of the equation to get:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "12 = 4 * m\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "solve for m to get:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "m = 12 / 4 = 3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "melona is currently 3 years old.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "in the equation of s = 3 * m + 6, replace m with 3 to get:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "s = 3 * 3 + 6 = 9 + 6 = 15\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "sheena is currently 15 years old.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "sheena is 15 years old now and melona is 3 years old now.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3 years from now, sheena will be 18 and melona will be 6.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "18 / 6 = 3 meaning sheena will be 3 times as old as melona in 3 years.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "1 year ago, sheena was 14 and melona was 2.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "14 / 2 = 7 meaning sheena was 7 times as old as melona 1 year ago.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "the solution is confirmed to be good.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "the solution is that sheena is 15 years old now and melona is 3 years old now.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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