SOLUTION: Pauline is 2 years younger than Shirley. Four years from now the sum of their ages will be 36. Find their present ages.

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Question 32256: Pauline is 2 years younger than Shirley. Four years from now the sum of their ages will be 36. Find their present ages.
Answer by Cintchr(481) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
1. +p%2B2+=+s+
2. +%28p%2B4%29+%2B+%28s%2B4%29+=+36+
Substitute equation 1 into equation 2
+%28p%2B4%29+%2B+%28%28p%2B2%29%2B4%29+=+36+
combine like terms
+2p+%2B+10+=+36+
subtract 10
+2p+=+26+
divide by 2
+p+=+13+
Plug this back into the first equation
+p%2B2+=+s+
+13%2B2+=+s+
+15+=+s+
CHECK:
+%28p%2B4%29+%2B+%28s%2B4%29+=+36+
+%2813%2B4%29+%2B+%2815%2B4%29=+36+
+17+%2B+19+=+36+
+36+=+36+
YES!!!