SOLUTION: Last year, MAry was three times as old as sha. A year later, she was twice as old as sha. How old are mary and sha?

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Question 1008024: Last year, MAry was three times as old as sha. A year later, she was twice as old as sha. How old are mary and sha?
Answer by fractalier(6550) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Call their ages NOW, m and s. Last year
m - 1 = 3(s - 1)
A year later would be this year, so
m = 2s
Substituting we get
2s - 1 = 3(s - 1)
2s - 1 = 3s - 3
Now subtract 2s and add 3 and get
-1 = s - 3
2 = s
m = 4