A woman is now 8 times as old as her son Michael. Two years ago, she was 15 times as old as Michael. Form an equation and solve it.

W = the woman's age

m = michael's age

8m = w

15 (m - 2) = (w-2)

15 (m - 2) = (8m - 2)

15m - 30 = 8m - 2

15m - 8m - 30 = 8m - 8m - 2

7m - 30 = - 2

7m - 30 + 30 = - 2 + 30

7m = 28

m = 4

8m = w

8 (4) = w

32 = w

w = 32 years old

m = 4 years old

- - Let's call Michael's age 'S' (for 'son')

- - Right now his mother's age is 8 times his age ... 8s

- - Two years ago ...

son was (S - 2) years old

mother was (8s - 2) years old.

she was 15 times her son's age.

- - So (8s - 2) = 15 (s - 2) < = = = this is the equation

8s - 2 = 15s - 30

- 2 = 7s - 30

28 = 7s

4 = s < = = = this is the solution to the equation

- - Michael is 4 now.

His mother is (8s) = 32

- - Two years ago, Michael was 2.

His mother was (8s - 2) = 30

30 = 15 x 2 yay!