<PRE><B>Question 723352</B>
Let a = R&#39;s age now
:
Fourteen years ago, Ralph was one-third as old as he will be 8 years from now.
 How old is Ralph now?
:
a - 14 = {{{1/3}}}(a+8)
multiply both sides by 3, to get rid of the fraction
3(a-14) = a + 8
3a - 42 = a + 8
3a - a = 8 + 42
2a = 50
a = 25 is R&#39;s age now
;
:
:
See if that works in the original statement
25 - 14 = {{{1/3}}}(25+8)
11 = {{{1/3}}}*33</PRE>