Question 1164622
<br>
A typical setup using formal algebra....<br>
x = Jason's age
x-5 = Luke's age<br>
x-2 = Jason's age 2 years ago
x-5-2 = x-7 = Luke's age 2 years ago<br>
The sum of their ages 2 years ago was 33:<br>
{{{(x-2)+(x-7) = 33}}}<br>
Solve using basic algebra....<br>
Informally....<br>
2 years ago, the sum of their ages was 33; so now the sum of their ages is 37.<br>
Add 5 years to Luke's age, so that their ages are the same; the sum of their ages is now 37+5 = 42.  So Jason is 42/2 = 21.<br>
Now subtract those "extra" 5 years from Luke's age to find that Luke is 21-5 = 16.<br>
Answer: Their current ages are 21 and 16.<br>