SOLUTION: Helen is 8 years older than Jane. Twenty years ago Helen was three times as old as Jane. How old is each now? (i need the equation)

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Question 1117400: Helen is 8 years older than Jane. Twenty years ago Helen was three times as old as Jane. How old is each now? (i need the equation)
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, greenestamps:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39620) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

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Answer by greenestamps(13200) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Start with the fact that Helen was 3 times as old as Jane 20 years ago.

Let Jane's age 20 years ago be x; then Helen's age then was 3x.

The difference between their ages back then was 2x.

But the difference between their ages is 8.

So 20 years ago, 2x was 8, so x was 4. That means Jane's age 20 years ago was x=4 and Jane's age then was 3x=12.

And so now, 20 years later, their ages are 4+20=24 and 12+20=32.