SOLUTION: What is the equation for the problem "John is 3 times as old as Martha. Five years ago the sum of their ages was 46. How old are they now?"

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Question 509268: What is the equation for the problem "John is 3 times as old as Martha.
Five years ago the sum of their ages was 46.
How old are they now?"
Answer by nerdybill(7384) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
What is the equation for the problem "John is 3 times as old as Martha.
Five years ago the sum of their ages was 46.
How old are they now?"
.
Let m = Martha's age
then from "John is 3 times as old as Martha":
3m = John's age
.
From:"Five years ago the sum of their ages was 46"
(m-5) + (3m-5) = 46
4m-10 = 46
4m = 56
m = 14 years old (Martha)
.
John:
3m = 3(14) = 42 years old