SOLUTION: a man is six years older than his wife.six years ago the ratio of their ages wa 7:6 find their present ages

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Question 1183265: a man is six years older than his wife.six years ago the ratio of their ages wa 7:6 find their present ages
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
a man is six years older than his wife.
m = w + 6
six years ago the ratio of their ages was 7:6
%28m-6%29%2F%28w-6%29+=+7%2F6
cross multiply
7(w-6) = 6(m-6)
7w - 42 = 6m - 36
7w - 6m = -36 + 42
7w - 6m = 6
from the 1st statement, replace m with (w+6)
7w - 6(w+6) = 6
7w - 6w - 36 = 6
w = 36 + 6
w = 42 yrs is the wife's age
:
find their present ages
m = 42 + 6
m = 48 is man's age
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:
Check in the statement
"six years ago the ratio of their ages was 7:6"
%2848-6%29%2F%2842-6%29 = 42%2F36 reduces to 7:6