Question 1010168
x represents jane's age today.


mary's age today is x + 15.


6 years ago, jane was x - 6 years old.


6 years ago, mary was x + 15 - 6 = x + 9 years old.


6 years ago, mary was 6 times as old as jane.


x + 9 = 6 * (x - 6)


simplify to get x + 9 = 6x - 36


subtract x from both sides of this equation and add 36 to both sides of this equation to get:


x + 9 - x + 36 = 6x - 36 - x + 36


combine like terms to get 45 = 5x


divide both sides of this equation by 5 to get 9 = x


jane is 9 years old today.
mary is 9 + 15 = 24 years old today.


that's your solution.


6 years ago, jane was 3.
6 years ago, mary was 18


18 = 6 * 3


solution is confirmed as good.