Question 570925
Let
Present age of Shelly = x
Present age of Michele = x-3


Given
======
Four years ago 
Shelly was = x-4
Michele was = (x-3)-4 = x-3-4 = x-7
Then
the sum of their ages was 71.
(x-4)+(x-7)=71
x-4+x-7=71
2x-11=71
2x=71+11
2x=82
2x/2=82/2
x=41


Present age of Shelly = x = 41 years old
Present age of Michele = x-3 = 41-3 = 38 years old




(Example 3. Use the information in the table below showing algebraic expressions in terms of x.)


No table given