Question 112768
Write an expression for each phrase
:
Let x = H's age now
;
One-half of Heather's age two years from now
{{{1/2}}}(x+2)
:
 plus one-third of her age three years ago
+ {{{1/3}}}(x-3)

 is twenty years. How old is she now?
:
Put it all together, ("is" usually means "="
{{{1/2}}}(x+2) + {{{1/3}}}(x-3) = 20
:
Get rid of those annoying denominators, multiply equation 6, resulting in:
3(x+2) + 2(x-3) = 6(20)
:
3x + 6 + 2x - 6 = 120
5x = 120
x = 120/5
x = 24 yrs is H's age now
:
check it out in the statement
{{{1/2}}}(24+2) + {{{1/3}}}(24-3) = 20
{{{1/2}}}(26) + {{{1/3}}}(21) = 20
 13 + 7 = 20 confirms our answer