Question 57953
You = {{{y}}}
Brother = {{{b}}}
You are 4 years older than your brother ==> {{{y=b+4}}}
Two years ago, you were 1.5 times as old as he was ==> {{{(y-2)=1.5(b-2)}}}
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Eq. 1: {{{y=b+4}}}
Eq. 2: {{{(y-2)=1.5(b-2)}}}
Solve Eq.1 for b: {{{b=y-4}}}
Plug that into Eq. 2: {{{y-2=1.5((y-4)-2)}}}
Distribute:
{{{y-2=1.5y-1.5*4-1.5*2}}}
{{{y-2=1.5y-6-3}}}
{{{y-1.5y=-6-3+2}}}
{{{-.5y=-7}}}
{{{y=14}}}