SOLUTION: You are 4 years older than your brother. Two years ago, you were 1.5 times as old as he was. What is your present age?

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Question 57953: You are 4 years older than your brother. Two years ago, you were 1.5 times as old as he was. What is your present age?
Answer by hayek(51) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You = y
Brother = b
You are 4 years older than your brother ==> y=b%2B4
Two years ago, you were 1.5 times as old as he was ==> %28y-2%29=1.5%28b-2%29
------
Eq. 1: y=b%2B4
Eq. 2: %28y-2%29=1.5%28b-2%29
Solve Eq.1 for b: b=y-4
Plug that into Eq. 2: y-2=1.5%28%28y-4%29-2%29
Distribute:
y-2=1.5y-1.5%2A4-1.5%2A2
y-2=1.5y-6-3
y-1.5y=-6-3%2B2
-.5y=-7
y=14