SOLUTION: How do I go about setting up and solving this question? Eight years ago, Heather was twice as old as her brother David. Today, she is 13 years older than he is. How old is she?

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Age -> SOLUTION: How do I go about setting up and solving this question? Eight years ago, Heather was twice as old as her brother David. Today, she is 13 years older than he is. How old is she?       Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


    

Question 1120198: How do I go about setting up and solving this question?
Eight years ago, Heather was twice as old as her brother David. Today, she is 13 years older than he is. How old is she?
This is how I started but I know this is not right.
2x-8+13=x-8
Thanks in advance.
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Write an equation for each statement
:
Eight years ago, Heather was twice as old as her brother David.
h - 8 = 2(d-8)
h - 8 = 2d - 16
h = 2d - 16 + 8
h = 2d - 8
Today, she is 13 years older than he is. How old is she?
h = d + 13
h = h, therefore
2d - 8 = d + 13
2d - d = 13 + 8
d = 21 is Davids age
:
You can find Heather's age
:
Check your solutions in both statements