Question 1132727


let’s red’s age be {{{x}}} and his brother’s age {{{y}}}

if Fred is {{{2 }}}years older than his brother, we have

{{{x=y+2}}}....eq.1
 
if {{{12 }}}years ago Fred was {{{twice}}} his brothers age, we have 

{{{x-12=2(y-12)}}}....eq.2

substitute {{{x}}} from eq.1 in eq.2

{{{y+2-12=2(y-12)}}}...solve for {{{y}}}

{{{y-10=2y-24}}}

{{{24-10=2y-y}}}

{{{y=14}}}

go back to {{{x=y+2}}}....eq.1, substitute {{{y}}} and solve for {{{x}}}

{{{x=14+2}}}

{{{x=16}}}

 so, Fred is {{{16 }}}  and his brother is  {{{14}}} years old now