SOLUTION: Marla is 5 years younger than her friend Carey. Five years ago the sum of their ages was 41. How old is each of them now?

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Question 404525: Marla is 5 years younger than her friend Carey. Five years ago the sum of their ages was 41. How old is each of them now?
Answer by Mr.Math(29) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let Marla is x now and Carey is y.
Then we obtain the system of equations:
y+=+x+%2B+5
%28x+-+5%29+%2B+%28y+-+5%29+=+41
Substitute the expression for y from the first equation into the second equation:
%28x+-+5%29+%2B+%28%28x+%2B+5%29+-+5%29+=+41
Simplify this expression:
x+-+5+%2B+x+%2B+5+-+5+=+41
2x+-+5+=+41
2x+=+46
x+=+23
Then y+=+x+%2B+5+=+23+%2B+5+=+28
Answer is: Marla is 23 now and Carey is 28.