<PRE><B>Question 229585</B>
Matt is 22 yars older than Belinda. 7 years ago Matt was 3 times as old as belinda, find the age of each now.   please help, I have so far 

                    7 yrs ago
Matt: M             M-7
Belinda: M-22       M-29

(m-7) + (m-29) = 36  


Nice effort...Here&#39;s how I&#39;d set up and solve the problem...


Step 1.  Let  m be the current age of Belinda


Step 2.  Let m+22 be the age of Matt.


Step 3.  Let m-7 be the age of Belinda seven years ago.


Step 4.  Let m+22-7=m+15 be the age of Matt seven years ago.


Step 5.  Then {{{m+15=3(m-7)}}} since 7 years ago Matt was 3 times as old as Belinda.


Step 6.  Solving {{{m+15=3(m-7)}}} yields the following steps


{{{m+15=3m-21}}}


Add 21 to both sides of the equation


{{{m+15+21=3m-cross(21)+cross(21)}}}


{{{m+36=3m}}}


Subtract m from both sides of the equation


{{{cross(m)+36-cross(m)=3m-m}}}


{{{36=2m}}}


Divide by 2 to both sides of the equation


{{{36/2=cross(2)m/cross(2)}}}


{{{m=18}}}  and {{{m+22=40}}}


Check with original statement:  Seven years ago Belinda is 11 and Matt is 33 when Matt was 3 times as old as Belinda.


Step 7.  ANSWER:  Belinda is 18 years old and Matt is 40 years old.


I hope the above steps were helpful.


For FREE Step-By-Step videos in Introduction to Algebra, please visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/IntroAlgebra and for Trigonometry visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/Trigonometry.


Good luck in your studies!


Respectfully,
Dr J


For FREE Step-By-Step videos in Introduction to Algebra, please visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/IntroAlgebra and for Trigonometry visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/Trigonometry.</PRE>