Question 1153656

let Shaun's age be {{{x}}} and Rachel's age {{{y}}}

if the sum of the ages of Shaun and Rachel is {{{73}}} years, we have

{{{x+y=73}}}......solve for {{{x}}}

{{{x=73-y}}}.....eq.1

if {{{8}}} years ago, Shaun's age was {{{2}}} times Rachel's age, we have

{{{x-8=2(y-8)}}}..........solve for {{{x}}}

{{{x-8=2y-16}}}

{{{x=2y-16+8}}}

{{{x=2y-8}}}......eq.2

from eq.1 and eq.2 we have

{{{73-y=2y-8}}}......solve for {{{y}}}

{{{73+8=2y+y}}}

{{{81=3y}}}

{{{y=81/3}}}

{{{y=27}}}

go to

{{{x=73-y}}}.....eq.1, plug in {{{y}}}

{{{x=73-27}}} 

{{{x=46}}} 


answer: Shaun is {{{46}}} years old