SOLUTION: Ed is 1/5 as old as laura. In 6 years, ed's age will be 3 years more than 1/4 of laura's age. How old are ed and laura now?

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Question 245426: Ed is 1/5 as old as laura. In 6 years, ed's age will be 3 years more than 1/4 of laura's age. How old are ed and laura now?
Answer by College Student(505) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let Laura = x
Let Ed = x/5
.
In 6 years, ed's age will be 3 years more than 1/4 of laura's age.
Thus our equation becomes:
%28x%2F5%29%2B6=%28%28x%2B6%29%2F4%29%2B3
Combine like terms:
%28x%2F5%29-%28%28x%2B6%29%2F4%29=3-6
Find common denominator
%28%28x%2F5%29%284%2F4%29%29-%28%28%28x%2B6%29%2F4%29%285%2F5%29%29=-3
%284x%2F20%29-%28%285%28x%2B6%29%29%2F20%29=-3
Now simplify and solve for x.
I'll let you take it from here.
You should come up with x=30 (Laura's age).
Remember to check your answer by pluging this value in the original equation.
Both sides of the equation must equal to each other to be a valid answer.
Done! :)