SOLUTION: If Mary is twice as old as Tom by all but three years and she is seventeen, how old is Tom?

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Question 1167373: If Mary is twice as old as Tom by all but three years and she is seventeen, how old is Tom?
Answer by josgarithmetic(39618) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
What? "by all but three years"?

Mary is twice as old as Tom:
m=2t

Mary is seventeen:
m=17

Put these two things together.
2t=17
t=17%2F2
t=8%261%2F2-------------you can do this only if the situation allows for half-year increments. Tom is 8 years 6 months.

If you meant or expected something else, then recheck your problem description.