Question 473901
"If a person is twice as old as his brother. 3 years ago the sum of their ages was 27. Find the age of the brothers."


x = one brother
2x = other brother {twice as old as the other one}


x - 3 = one brother 3 years ago
2x - 3 = other brother 3 years ago


x - 3 + 2x - 3 = 27 {sum of ages 3 years ago was 27}
3x - 6 = 27 {combined like terms}
3x = 33 {added 6 to both sides}
x = 11 {divided both sides by 3}
2x = 22 {substituted 11, in for x, into 2x}


Their ages are 11 and 22
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