Question 655597
  <pre><font face = "Tohoma" size = 3 color = "indigo"><b> 
Hi,
Today Mary's <u>father is 12 years older than twice Mary's age</u>{{{highlight(x)}}}
Mary's age: {{{highlight(x)}}}
father's age: {{{2x + 12}}}
Question states***Three years ago Mary was three times as young as her father.
(father was 3 times as old)
 2x + 12 - 3 = 3(x-3)
 2x + 9 = 3x - 9
      18 = x, Mary's age NOW

and***father NOW 48...Three years ago
 {{{45 = 3*15}}}