SOLUTION: elsa's mother is 5 times older than her. Elsa's age 5 years from now will be one-third her mother's age. Find the present age.

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Question 1087059: elsa's mother is 5 times older than her. Elsa's age 5 years from now will be one-third her mother's age. Find the present age.
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +m+ = Elsa's mother's age now
Let +e+ = Elsa's age now
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(1) +m+=+5e+
(2) +e+%2B+5+=+%281%2F3%29%2A%28+m+%2B+5+%29+
------------------------------------
(2) +3%2A%28+e+%2B+5+%29+=+m+%2B+5+
(2) +3e+%2B+15+=+m+%2B+5+
(2) +m+-+3e+=+10+
Substitute (1) into (2)
(2) +5e+-+3e+=+10+
(2) +2e+=+10+
(2) +e+=+5+
and
(1) +m+=+5e+
(1) +m+=+5%2A5+
(1) +m+=+25+
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Elsa is 5 and her mother is 25
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check:
(2) +e+%2B+5+=+%281%2F3%29%2A%28+m+%2B+5+%29+
(2) +5+%2B+5+=+%281%2F3%29%2A%28+25+%2B+5+%29+
(2) +10+=+%281%2F3%29%2A30+
(2) +10+=+10+
OK