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| Question 18466:  Bill is 1 year less than twice as old as his sister Caroline.
 The total of their ages is 26.
 How old is Bill now? Please help!
 Thanks1
 Answer by xcentaur(357)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Let Bill be x years old,let Caroline be y years old. Now,
 "Bill is 1 year less than twice as old as his sister Caroline."
 
 
 twice as old as his sister Caroline means  (2y)
 
 Bill is 1 year less than twice as old as his sister means (2y-1)
 
 
 (2y-1) is Bill's age,which is 'x'
 x=2y-1
 
 "The total of their ages is 26"
 that means
 x+y=26
 we know x=2y-1,so put this value in the above equation
 x+y=26
 (2y-1)+y=26
 3y-1=26
 3y=26+1
 3y=27
 y=9
 x=2y-1=2(9)-1=18-1=17
 
 Bill:17 years old,Caroline:9 years old
 
 Hope this helps,
 Prabhat
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