SOLUTION: Hi there, I really need some help with solving word problems! Here is the question: The sum of Louise's age and Todd's age is 34 years. Five years ago, the sum of twice Louise's

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations  -> Linear Equations and Systems Word Problems -> SOLUTION: Hi there, I really need some help with solving word problems! Here is the question: The sum of Louise's age and Todd's age is 34 years. Five years ago, the sum of twice Louise's       Log On


   

Question 17641: Hi there, I really need some help with solving word problems! Here is the question:
The sum of Louise's age and Todd's age is 34 years. Five years ago, the sum of twice Louise's age and three times Todd's age was 61 years. How old are they now?
Answer by arunpaul(104) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let Louise's age =x
and Todd's age =y
as per question x+y = 34 -----eq(1)
five years ago Louise's age was = x-5
and Todd's age was =y-5
and 2(x-5)+3(y-5)=61
or 2x-10+3y-15=61
or 2x+3y-25=61
or 2x+3y=61+25=86-------eq(2)
solving eq(1) and eq(2)we have
i.e eq(1)-eq(2)
2x+2y=68
-2x-3y=-86
-----------
-y =-18
or y =18
so x = 34-18=16
so Todd's age =18 years
and Louise's age =16 years