SOLUTION: rebecca is four years older than jake. Five years ago she was twice as old as he was. Find their ages now.

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Question 668487: rebecca is four years older than jake. Five years ago she was twice as old as he was. Find their ages now.
Answer by swincher4391(1107) About Me  (Show Source):
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Let r be the age of Rebecca. Let j be the age of Jake.
Rebecca is four years older than Jake: r = j+4
Five years ago she was twice as old as he was: r-5 = 2(j-5)
Substitute j+4 for r.
j+4-5 = 2(j-5)
j-1 = 2j -10
9 = j
r = 9 +4 = 13
So Jake is 9 and Rebecca is 13.