document.write( "Question 1206003: A brother is 3 years older than his sister, five years ago, the ratio of their ages were 4:3 find their present ages \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #843167 by greenestamps(13200)\"\" \"About 
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\n" ); document.write( "Given the ratio of their ages 5 years ago to be 4:3, one good way to start on the problem is like this:

\n" ); document.write( "Let 4x = brother's age 5 years ago
\n" ); document.write( "Let 3x = sister's age 5 years ago

\n" ); document.write( "The difference in their ages 5 years ago was 4x-3x = x; the difference in their ages (now and always) is 3 years. So

\n" ); document.write( "x=3; the brother's age 5 years ago was 4x=12; the sister's age 5 years ago was 3x=9; and...

\n" ); document.write( "ANSWER: The brother's age is 12+5 = 17; the sister's age is 9+5 = 14

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