Question 18466
Let Bill be x years old,let Caroline be y years old.
Now,
<font color=blue>"Bill is 1 year less than twice as old as his sister Caroline."</font>
<br>
<b>twice as old as his sister Caroline</b> means <i> (2y)</i><br>
<b>Bill is 1 year less than twice as old as his sister</b> means (2y-1)
<br>
(2y-1) is Bill's age,which is 'x'
x=2y-1
<P>
<font color=blue>"The total of their ages is 26"</font>
that means
x+y=26
we know x=2y-1,so put this value in the above equation
x+y=26
(2y-1)+y=26
3y-1=26
3y=26+1
3y=27
y=9
x=2y-1=2(9)-1=18-1=17
<P>
Bill:17 years old,Caroline:9 years old
<P>
Hope this helps,
Prabhat