document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=131956>Question 131956</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> two years ago a father was four times as old as his son. three years from now the father will be only three times as old as the son. How old is each at present? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #96337 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=ptaylor><B>ptaylor(2198)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=ptaylor><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=ptaylor><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=96337\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let x=son's age now<BR>\n" );
document.write( "And let y=father's age now\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now we are told that:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "4(x-2)=y-2------------------------eq1\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "We are also told:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3(x+3)=y+3-----------------------------eq2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "subtract eq1 from eq2 and we get:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3(x+3)-4(x-2)=5  get rid of parens\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3x+9-4x+8=5 or<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-x+17=5 subtract 17 from both sides<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-x+17-17=5-17 collect like terms\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "-x=-12  divide both sides by -1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=12------------------------------son's age now\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "substitute x=12 into eq1\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "4(12-2)=y-2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "40=y-2  add 2 to each side\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "40+2=y-2+2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "y=42----------------------father's age now\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "CK\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "4(12-2)=42-2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "40=40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "also<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3(12+3)=42+3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "45=45\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Hope this helps----ptaylor\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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