Question 381919
"Mrs. Bruce lacks one year from being five times as old as her son"
so if you add one to her age , she will equal 5 times the son
___ B + 1 = 5s ___ B = 5s - 1


"Five years from now she will lack One year from being 3 time as old as her son will be then"
same technique , different numbers
___ (B + 5) + 1 = 3(s + 5) ___ B + 6 = 3s + 15 ___ B = 3s + 9


substituting the B equivalent from the 1st equation into the 2nd equation ___ (5s - 1) = 3s + 9


2s = 10 ___ s = 5


B = 3(5) + 9 ___ B = 24