SOLUTION: Hi, this question is already answered on this website, but the answer is very weird and is not clear, could you explain it again? thanks Sue is three times as old as Michelle.

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Question 1202166: Hi, this question is already answered on this website, but the answer is very weird and is not clear, could you explain it again?
thanks
Sue is three times as old as Michelle. 10 years ago she was seven times as old as Michelle
was. How old is Sue now?

Found 2 solutions by greenestamps, josgarithmetic:
Answer by greenestamps(13200) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Sue is three times as old as Michelle.

Starting from there...
let x = Michelle's age now
then 3x = Sue's age now (she is now three times as old as Michelle)

10 years ago she was seven times as old as Michelle was.

From our starting point above, we need expressions for their ages 10 years ago:
x-10 = Michelle's age 10 years ago
3x-10 = Sue's age 10 years ago

And now, using those expressions, write and solve an equation that says Sue's age 10 years ago was seven times Michelle's age 10 years ago:

3x-10 = 7(x-10)
3x-10 = 7x-70
60 = 4x
x = 15

How old is Sue now?:

ANSWER: Sue's age now is 3x = 3(15) = 45


Answer by josgarithmetic(39618) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
                  TODAY          10 YEARS AGO

Michelle            x              x-10

Sue                3x             3x-10

10 years ago she (Sue) was seven times as old as Michelle.
highlight_green%283x-10=7%28x-10%29%29
.
.
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