Question 344035
 "Melissa is 24 years younger than Joyce. In 2 years, Joyce will be 3 times as old as Melissa will be then. How old are they now?" 
My teacher told me to set it up into a table. How i think the table will be set up like this: 
Now -------- In 2 yrs
Melissa: x-24 x-24+2
Joyce: x 3(x-24+2)

And when i set up the equation it came out to be:
x-24+2=3(x-24+2) 
Im not sure if that is the right way to set it up. I am horrible at Algebra and i really need your help 
So my question is: Is my equation set up right or do i need to do it a whole dfferent way?
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M = Melissa's age, J = Joyce's age
J = M + 24 (always true)
J + 2 = 3(M+2) (3x as old in 2 years)
Sub M+24 for J in the 2nd eqn
M+24 + 2 = 3M + 6
-2M + 26 = 6
-2M = -20
M = 10
J = 34
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The way you were going might work, but it was giving me a headache.