<PRE><B>Question 260697</B>
m = mary
s = susan
J = john
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(i) m = 2s
(ii) m = j + 3
(iii) m+s+j = 32
step 1 - set (i) = (ii) and solve for j. We get
(iv) 2s = j + 3
(v) j = 2s-3
step - 2 rewrite m and j in terms of s using (i) and (v). We get
(vi) 2s + s + 2s -3 = 32
step 3 - solve for s. WE get
(vii) 5s - 3 = 32
add 3 to get
(viii) 5s = 35
divide by 5 to get
(ix) s = 7
So, susan is 7.</PRE>