document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=122603>Question 122603</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> In four years time a mother will be three times as old as her son. Four years go she was five times as old as her son. 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 #90039 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=oscargut><B>oscargut(2103)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=oscargut><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=oscargut><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=90039\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let M= present age of the mother and S= present age of the son\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "In four years time a mother will be three times as old as her son<BR>\n" );
document.write( "so (M+4)=3(S+4)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Four years ago she was five times as old as her son.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "so (M-4)=5(S-4)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "if you simplify the equations:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "M+4=3S+12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "M-4=5S-20\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "M-3S=8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "M-5S=-16\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "so substracting 2S=24 so S=12 using first equation<BR>\n" );
document.write( "M-3S=8 then M-36=8 and M=44\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "R: M=44 and S=18\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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