SOLUTION: please help answer, thanks In five years John's age will be three years more than two thirds of Terry's age. Four years ago, the sum of their ages is 20. How old is each now?

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Question 716028: please help answer, thanks
In five years John's age will be three years more than two thirds of Terry's age. Four years ago, the sum of their ages is 20. How old is each now?
Answer by josgarithmetic(39620) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let j=john's age now
Let t=terry's age now

Each person___________4years ago_____________now_____________in 5 years
john__________________j-4________________j_______________j%2B5=3%28t%2B5%29
terry_________________t-4________________t_______________
Further data________%28j-4%29%2B%28t-4%29=20___________________________

The information shown in the table is directly from the problem description. Two variables as unknowns were assigned and they occur in two equations.

The system to solve is this one:
j%2B5=3%28t%2B5%29
%28j-4%29%2B%28t-4%29=20
Which should first be simplified to ....

SYSTEM TO SOLVE:
highlight%28j-t=-8%29
highlight%28j%2Bt=28%29

Easiest way from there is add both equations to eliminate t.
2j=36
j=18
Use either equation to find t.
t=28-j
t=28-18
t=10

Final Numeric Result: Terry is 10 and John is 18.