SOLUTION: harry is 20 years older than ian..five years from now, ian will be 3/5 as old as harry.how old is each now?

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Question 1103807: harry is 20 years older than ian..five years from now, ian will be 3/5 as old as harry.how old is each now?
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +a+ = Harry's age now
Let +b+ = Ian's age now
-----------------------------
(1) +a+=+b+%2B+20+
(2) +b+%2B+5+=+%283%2F5%29%2A%28+a+%2B+5+%29+
-----------------------------
(2) +5%2A%28+b+%2B+5+%29+=+3%2A%28+a+%2B+5+%29+
(2) +5b+%2B+25+=+3a+%2B+15+
(2) +3a+-+5b+=+10+
Substitute (1) into (2)
(2) +3%2A%28+b+%2B+20+%29++-+5b+=+10+
(2) +3b+%2B+60+-+5b+=+10+
(2) +5b+-+3b+=+50+
(2) +2b+=+50+
(2) +b+=+25+
and
(1) +a+=+b+%2B+20+
(1) +a+=+25+%2B+20+
(1) +a+=+45+
----------------------
Harry is 45 now
Ian is 25 now
----------------------
check:
(2) +b+%2B+5+=+%283%2F5%29%2A%28+a+%2B+5+%29+
(2) +25+%2B+5+=+%283%2F5%29%2A%28+45+%2B+5+%29+
(2) +30+=+%283%2F5%29%2A50+
(2) +30+=+30+
OK