SOLUTION: One year ago, Gill was five times as old as her horse. In one year’s time, the sum of their ages will be 22 . How old was Gill three years ago?

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Question 958204: One year ago, Gill was five times as old as her horse. In one year’s time, the sum of their ages will be 22 . How old was Gill three years ago?
Found 2 solutions by stanbon, macston:
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
One year ago, Gill was five times as old as her horse. In one year’s time, the sum of their ages will be 22 . How old was Gill three years ago?
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Equations:
g-1 = 5(h-1)
g+1 + h+1 = 22
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Rearrange::
g - 5h = -4
g + h = 20
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Subtract and solve for "h":
6h = 24
h = 4 yrs (horse's age now)
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Solve for "g"::
g = 20-h = 16 yrs (Gill's age now)
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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Answer by macston(5194) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
G=Gill's age; H=horse's age
G+1yr+H+1yr=22yrs
G+H+2yrs=22yrs
G+H=20yrs
G=20yrs-H
G-1yr=5(H-1yr) Substitute for G
(20yrs-H)-1yr=5H-5yrs
19yrs-H=5H-5yrs Add 5yrs+H to each side
24yrs=6H Divide each side by 6.
4yrs=H The horse is 4 years old.
G=20yrs-H=20yrs-4yrs=16yrs Gill is 16 years old
G-3yrs=16yrs-3yrs=13yrs ANSWER: Three years ago, Gill was thirteen years old.