SOLUTION: Carina is 5 years older than Megan. There years ago, she was twice as old as Megan. How old are they now?

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Question 1036131: Carina is 5 years older than Megan. There years ago, she was twice as old as Megan. How old are they now?
Found 3 solutions by rfer, MathTherapy, ikleyn:
Answer by rfer(16322) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
c=m+5
c-3=2(m-3)
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m+5-3=2(m-3)
2+6=m
8=m Megan
------------
c-3=2(8-3)
c=13 Carina
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c=m+5
13=8+5
13=13

Answer by MathTherapy(10552) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Carina is 5 years older than Megan. There years ago, she was twice as old as Megan. How old are they now?

Answer by ikleyn(52794) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
Carina is 5 years older than Megan. highlight%28cross%28There%29%29 Three years ago, she was twice as old as Megan. How old are they now?
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The right way to start is this system:

c = m + 5,      (1)
c-3 = 2(m-3).   (2)

Substitute expression c = m+5 from (1) into (2) and get a single equation for m. Then solve it.