Question 234487:  five years ago a man was seven times as old as his son. five years hence, the father will be three times as old as his son. find their present age? 
 Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! let m = man's present age 
let s = son's present age 
: 
Write an equation for each statement: 
: 
"five years ago a man was seven times as old as his son." 
m - 5 = 7(s - 5) 
m - 5 = 7s - 35 
m = 7s - 35 + 5 
m = 7s - 30 
: 
" five years hence, the father will be three times as old as his son." 
m + 5 = 3(s + 5) 
m + 5 = 3s + 15 
m = 3s + 15 - 5 
m = 3s + 10 
: 
 find their present age? 
Using the first statement to replace m in the 2nd statement 
7s - 30 = 3s + 10 
7s - 3s = 10 + 30 
4s = 40 
s = 10 
: 
I'll let you find the man's age, check the solutions in both statements. 
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