SOLUTION: One man is three times as old as another. Fifteen years ago the first was six times as old as the second. Find their ages now.

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Question 1005176: One man is three times as old as another. Fifteen years ago the first was six times as old as the second. Find their ages now.
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +a+ = the 1st person's age
Let +b+ = the 2nd person's age
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(1) +a+=+3b+
(2) +a+-+15+=+6%2A%28+b+-+15+%29+
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Substitute (1) into (2)
(2) +3b+-+15+=+6%2A%28+b+-+15+%29+
(2) +3b+-+15+=+6b+-+90+
(2) +3b+=+75+
(2) +b+=+25+
and
(1) +a+=+3b+
(1) +a+=+3%2A25+
(1) +a+=+75+
The 1st person is 75
The 2nd person is 25
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check:
(2) +a+-+15+=+6%2A%28+b+-+15+%29+
(2) +75+-+15+=+6%2A%28+25+-+15+%29+
(2) +60+=+6%2A10+
(2) +60+=+60+
OK