Question 402002
A is eleven times as old as B. In a certain number of years A will be five times as old as B, and five years after that she will be three times as old as B. How old are they now?
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Equations:
a = 11b
(a+x)= 5(b+x)
(a+x+5) = 3(b+x+5)
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Substitute for "a":
11b+x = 5b+5x
11b+x+5 = 3b+3x+15
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Rearrange:
6b - 4x = 0
8b - 2x = 10
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Divide thru the 1st equation by 2 to get:
3b - 2x = 0
8b - 2x = 10
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Subtract 1st from 2nd and solve for "b":
5b = 10
b = 2 yrs old
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Solve for "a":
a = 11b
a = 22 yrs old
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Cheers,
Stan H.