Question 1044042
<pre>
             NOW        NOW-Described       Seventeen Years Ago

Michael      m           m=b+12             m-17

Brandon      b                              b-17
</pre>


What does the description say?
{{{m=b+12}}} first sentence.


Second Sentence?
Michael WAS 4 times as old as Brandon.
WHEN?  Seventeen years ago.
{{{m-17=4(b-17)}}}.


The system of equations is  {{{system(m=b+12,m-17=4(b-17))}}}.


{{{m-17=4b-68}}}
{{{m=4b-68+17}}}
{{{m=4b-51}}}
{{{m-4b=-51}}}
-
{{{b+12-4b=-51}}}, through substitution from the first equation
{{{-3b=-51-12}}}
{{{3b=51+12}}}
{{{b=51/3+12/3}}}
{{{b=17+4}}}
{{{highlight(b=21)}}}
-
{{{highlight(m=33)}}}