Question 1152332
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Note that the wording of the problem is actually nonsense.  {{{highlight(Noel)}}} will be older; his {{{highlight(AGE)}}} won't be older.<br>
{{{cross(Noels age)}}} {{{highlight(Noel)}}} in 8 years will be three times as old as {{{cross(it)}}} {{{highlight(he)}}} was 2 years ago.<br>
For a completely different method of solution, see if this "works" for you:<br>
The difference between 8 years from now and 2 years ago is 10 years.<br>
If the difference in the times is 10 years, and the later age is 3 times the earlier age, then his ages at those two times are 15 and 5.<br>
So he will be 15 8 years from now; and he was 5 2 years ago.  Either way, his age now is 7.<br>