document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1190483>Question 1190483</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A woman is older than her daughter by 25 years. Three years ago, the ratio of their ages was 3:1. Find 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 #822146 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=822146\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Using two variables to solve the equation makes for a lot more work than using only one....<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = daughter's age now<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+25 = woman's age now<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "x-3 = daughter's age 3 years ago<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+22 = woman's age 3 years ago<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "3 years ago the woman was 3 times as old as her daughter:<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+22=3(x-3)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+22=3x-9<BR>\n" );
document.write( "31=2x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=15.5<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The problem is not valid; in problems involving ages, the ages must be whole numbers.<br><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );