Lane is 10 times Mel's age. If the difference in their age is 27, how old is Mel?

L - Lane's age

m - Mel's age.

Lane is 10 times Mel's age, so 10m = l

difference in their age is 27 so l - m = 27

Substitute l = 10m and you'll have:

10m - m = 27

9m = 27 / : 9

m=3

And l = 10m = 10*3 = 30

So Lane has 3 years old and Mel has 30 years old.