SOLUTION: Maria is 36 Years old. Maria is twice as old Ana was when Maria was as old as Ana is now. How old is Ana now?

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Question 800897: Maria is 36 Years old. Maria is twice as old Ana was when Maria was as old as Ana is now. How old is Ana now?
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +a+ = Ana's age now
Let +m+ = Maria's age now
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The difference in their ages never changes,
so it remains equal to +m+-+a+=+36+-+a+
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I'll start at the end:
" when Maria was as old as Ana is now "
This says when Maria's age was equal to +a+
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When Maria was +a+, Ana was +a+ minus
the difference in their ages, or
+a+-+%28+m+-+a+%29+=+a+-+%28+36+-+a+%29+
+a+-+36+%2B+a+=+2a+-+36+
-----------------------
Maria is twice this age, so
+36+=+2%2A%28+2a+-+36+%29+
+36+=+4a+-+72+
+4a+=+108+
+a+=+27+
Ana is 27 now
check:
" when Maria was as old as Ana is now "
when Maria was +27+
Ana was +27+-+%28+36+-+27+%29+
+27+-+36+%2B+27+=+54+-+36+
+54+-+36+=+18+
Maria is twice this age
+36+=+2%2A18+
OK