Question 740633
We are given Ruth is twice as old as Pat. In 4 years, Ruth will be three times as old as Pat was three years ago. How old is each now?

let x=Pat let y= Ruth

y = 2x  ( Ruth is twice as old as Pat)

y+4 = 3*(x-3)   (In 4 years, Ruth will be three times as old as Pat was three years ago)

subtitute 2x for y in second equation and we have

2x+4 = 3x - 9 and

x = 13 and y = 26

so Pat is 13 and Ruth is 26