Question 1012237
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Let Sam's age now be S
Let her Mother's age now be M
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6 years ago Mrs. Smith was 5 times as old as her daughter Sam
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M-6 = 5(S-6)
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How old is Sam now if her age is one third of her mother's present age?
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Since Sam's age now is one third of her mother's present age,

S = {{{1/3}}}M

Multiply that through by 3 to clear the fraction:

3S = M

Substitute 3S for M in

3S-6 = 5(S-6)

Solve that for S.

Edwin</pre>