Question 54443
John is 5 years older than AL. Two years ago the product of their ages was 30 less than it is now. How old are they now?
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NOW Data:
Let Al be "x" yrs. old.
Then John is "x+5" yrs. old.
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TWO YEARS AGO DATA:
Al was "x-2" yrs. old.
John was "x+3" yrs. old.
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EQUATION;
(x-2)(x+3)=?
Here the problem becomes ambiguous.
It says "Two years ago the product of 
their ages was 30 less than WHAT is now.
Is WHAT the product now?
Is WHAT the sum now?
What is WHAT?
Cheers,
Stan H.