Question 412167
Let x = Tom's age right now. 



Now set up a table (this is optional, but it may help)


<pre>

      Now   |    Five Years Ago
     ---------------------------
Tom    x    |       x-5
Bill  x+3   |       (x+3)-5


</pre>


Basically we have two columns which represent Tom and Bill's age now and five years ago. 


Since x is Tom's age, an 'x' goes in the row Tom and the column Now.


Since "bill is 3 years older than tom", an 'x+3' goes in the Bill row and Now column. 



To get the second column, simply subtract 3 from each value in the first column.



So we know that Tom is x-5 years old and Bill is (x+3)-5 or x-2 years old five years ago



Now because "five years ago bill was twice tom age", we know that {{{x-2=2(x-5)}}}. So let's solve this equation.



{{{x-2=2x-10}}} Distribute.



{{{x=2x-10+2}}} Add {{{2}}} to both sides.



{{{x-2x=-10+2}}} Subtract {{{2x}}} from both sides.



{{{-x=-10+2}}} Combine like terms on the left side.



{{{-x=-8}}} Combine like terms on the right side.



{{{x=(-8)/(-1)}}} Divide both sides by {{{-1}}} to isolate {{{x}}}.



{{{x=8}}} Reduce.



Since x is Tom's age now, this means that Tom is currently 8 years old. 


Because Bill is 3 years older than Tom, this means Bill is 8+3 = 11 years old.



Now subtract 5 from both their ages (to get their ages 5 years ago) to get Tom to be 8-5 = 3 and Bill to be 11-5 = 6. 



So five years ago, Tom was 3 and Bill was 6. Notice that 6 is exactly twice (two times) that of 3. 



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