SOLUTION: jonathan is 32. jonathan is as twice as old as sandy was when jonathan was as old as sandy. how old is sandy?

Let x = the number of years ago it was when Jonathan was the age Sandy is now.

Therefore J - x = S  and since J = 32,
         32 - x = S

Jonathan is now twice as old as Sandy was x years ago, so

         J = 2(S - x)  and since J = 32
        32 = 2(S - x)

So we have the system of equations:



solve that system, get x=8, S=24.

Checking:  8 years ago Jonathan was 32-8 or 24.
           8 years ago Sandy was 24-8 or 16.
           Jonathon, being 32 now, is twice Sand'y age then
           which was 16, so it checks.

Edwin