Question 1171129
let p = Paul's present age
let r = Ruth's
let e = Emma's
:
Write an equation for each statement
:
Paul's age is three years older than Ruth's age.
  p = r + 3
or we can write it
  r = p - 3
If Emma's age is twice that of Paul's age, find out Paul's age
  e = 2p
if the total of them two years ago was 51 years.
 (p-2) + (r-2) + (e-2) = 51
Replace r with (p-3) and replace e with 2p
p-2 + p-3-2 + 2p-2 = 51
combine like terms
4p - 9 = 51
4p = 51 + 9
4p = 60
p = 60/4
p = 15 yrs is Paul's age
:
:
:
Check in the last equation; r = 12, e = 30
15-2 + 12-2 + 30-2 =
13 + 10 + 28 = 51