Question 857338
Let their present ages be m, w, s
write an equation for each statement, simplify
:
 a man is five year older than his wife
m = w + 5
and 7 time older than his son
m = 7s
when the son was born, the age of the wife was {{{5/6}}} that of the husbands age.
subtract the son's age from both
w - s = {{{5/6}}}(m - s)
replace m with 7s
w - s = {{{5/6}}}(7s-s)
w - s = {{{5/6}}}(6s)
Cancel 6
w - s = 5s
w = 5s + s
w = 6s
In the first equation m = w + 5
replace m with 7s, replace w with 6s
7s = 6s + 5
7s - 6s = 5
s = 5 yrs is the son's age:
I'll let you find the man and the wife's ages