Question 107542
Mr. Irwin and Ms. Lippi are math teachers. They have a total of 46 years of teaching. Two years ago Mr. Irwin had taught 2.5 times as many years as Ms. Lippi. How long has each taught?
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Let number of years Irwin has taught be "x".
Let number of years Lippi has taught be 46-x.
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Two years ago:
Irwin had taught "x-2" years
Lippi had taught 46-x-2 = "44-x" years
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EQUATION:
Irwin = 2.5*Lippi
x-2 = (5/2)(44-x)
2x-4 = 5(44-x)
7x = 224
x = 32 (# of years Irwin has taught)
46-x = 14 (# of years Lippi has taught)
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Cheers,
Stan H>