SOLUTION: At this moment a movie star is 5 times as old as her child. Five years ago she was 15 times as old as her child. How old is the movie star now? How old is her child? --Thanks onli

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Age -> SOLUTION: At this moment a movie star is 5 times as old as her child. Five years ago she was 15 times as old as her child. How old is the movie star now? How old is her child? --Thanks onli      Log On

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Question 732168: At this moment a movie star is 5 times as old as her child. Five years ago she was 15 times as old as her child. How old is the movie star now? How old is her child?
--Thanks online tutor! Any explanation is much appreciated!
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +m+ = Movie star's age now
Let +c+ = the child's age now
+m+-+5+ = Movie star's age 5 years ago
+c+-+5+ = child's age 5 years ago
given:
+m+=+5c+
+m+-+5+=+15%2A%28+c+-+5+%29+
---------------------
By substitution:
+5c+-+5+=+15%2A%28+c+-+5+%29+
+5c+-+5+=+15c+-+75+
+10c+=+70+
+c+=+7+
and
+m+=+5c+
+m+=+5%2A7+
+m+=+35+
Her child is 7
check:
+m+-+5+=+15%2A%28+c+-+5+%29+
+35+-+5+=+15%2A%28+7+-+5+%29+
+30+=+15%2A2+
+30+=+30+
OK