Question 179299
Let x=Joan's age; 4 times Joan's age=4x
Then 2x-1=Jim's age; 3 times Jim's age=3(2x-1)=6x-3

Now we are told that:
4x+6x-3=47  add 3 to each side
4x+6x-3+3=47+3  collect like terms
10x=50 divide each side by 10
x=5--------------------------------Joan's age
2x-1=2*5-1=9-----------------------Jim's age

CK
4*5 +3*9=47
20+27=47
47=47

Hope this helps---ptaylor