SOLUTION: Matt is 22 yars older than belinda. 7 years ago Matt was 3 times as old as belinda, find the age of each now. please help, I have so far 7 yrs ago Matt:

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Question 229585: Matt is 22 yars older than belinda. 7 years ago Matt was 3 times as old as belinda, find the age of each now. please help, I have so far
7 yrs ago
Matt: M M-7
Belinda: M-22 M-29
(m-7) + (m-29) = 36
Answer by drj(1380) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Matt is 22 yars older than Belinda. 7 years ago Matt was 3 times as old as belinda, find the age of each now. please help, I have so far
7 yrs ago
Matt: M M-7
Belinda: M-22 M-29
(m-7) + (m-29) = 36

Nice effort...Here's how I'd set up and solve the problem...

Step 1. Let m be the current age of Belinda

Step 2. Let m+22 be the age of Matt.

Step 3. Let m-7 be the age of Belinda seven years ago.

Step 4. Let m+22-7=m+15 be the age of Matt seven years ago.

Step 5. Then m%2B15=3%28m-7%29 since 7 years ago Matt was 3 times as old as Belinda.

Step 6. Solving m%2B15=3%28m-7%29 yields the following steps

m%2B15=3m-21

Add 21 to both sides of the equation

m%2B15%2B21=3m-cross%2821%29%2Bcross%2821%29

m%2B36=3m

Subtract m from both sides of the equation

cross%28m%29%2B36-cross%28m%29=3m-m

36=2m

Divide by 2 to both sides of the equation

36%2F2=cross%282%29m%2Fcross%282%29

m=18 and m%2B22=40

Check with original statement: Seven years ago Belinda is 11 and Matt is 33 when Matt was 3 times as old as Belinda.

Step 7. ANSWER: Belinda is 18 years old and Matt is 40 years old.

I hope the above steps were helpful.

For FREE Step-By-Step videos in Introduction to Algebra, please visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/IntroAlgebra and for Trigonometry visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/Trigonometry.

Good luck in your studies!

Respectfully,
Dr J

For FREE Step-By-Step videos in Introduction to Algebra, please visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/IntroAlgebra and for Trigonometry visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/Trigonometry.