SOLUTION: You are 4 years older than your brother. Two years ago, you were 1.5 times as old as he was. What is your present age?

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Question 539260: You are 4 years older than your brother. Two years ago, you were 1.5 times as old as he was. What is your present age?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You are 4 years older than your brother.
y = b + 4
:
Two years ago, you were 1.5 times as old as he was.
y - 2 = 1.5(b - 2)
y - 2 = 1.5b - 3
y = 1.5b - 3 + 2
y = 1.5b - 1
Replace y with (b+4) (from the 1st statement}
b + 4 = 1.5b - 1
b - 1.5b = - 1 - 4
-.5b = -5
b = %28-5%29%2F%28-.5%29
b = +10 yrs is the brother's age
and
10 + 4 = 14 yrs is your age
:
See if that works in the 2nd statement
14 - 2 = 1.5(10-2)
12 = 1.5(8); confirms our solutions