Er... say that again?

Question

Two friends meet to celebrate their birthdays which fall on the same date. "This is a very special birthday," says one of them,"because although collectively we are 63 years old, I am also twice as old as you were, when I was as old as you are now."

How old are they?

No correct answers yet!
rt11guru is on the right lines but has slightly misread the question.

Answer 1

Given:
A = age of friend today
B = age of speaker today
A-N = age of friend N years ago
B-N = age of speaker N years ago

Their ages collectively are 63:
1) A + B = 63

N years ago, B was as old as A is today:
2) B - N = A

B today is twice as old as N was then (N years ago)
3) B = 2( A - N )

First write an equation for N, using #2
4) N = ( B - A )

Substitute into #3
5) B = 2 ( A - ( B - A ) )
6) B = 2 ( 2A - B )
7) B = 4A - 2B
8) 3B = 4A
9) B = (4/3)A

Plug this into equation #1:
10) A + (4/3)A = 63
11) 7/3(A) = 63
12) A = (3/7)63
13) A = 3 * 9
14) A = 27

Easily solve for B:
15) 27 + B = 63
16) B = 36

There current ages are 27 and 36. Nine years ago, the friends would have been 18 and 27. B age (27) was the same as A now (27) , and B now (36) is twice as A then (18).

So the final answer is:
They are 27 and 36 today.

Answer 2

21 and 42

Answer 3

21 and 42

Answer 4

well i can't be 21 and 42 because when the older one was 21 the younger one wasn't even born yet.

and i tried every number and nothing comes out as 63 sorry but its not 21 and 42 i promise you its around the 25ish area check ya later ♥

Answer 5

Today they are 37.8 and 25.2 difference of 12.6 yrs a total of 63 years.


12.6 years ago the older was 25.2 and the younger was 12.6.
That makes the older one twice as old as the younger on that date.

Answer 6

1y + 2y = 63
3y = 63
y = 63/3

y = 21 , 2y=42

Answer 7

21 & 42.

Answer 8

21 & 42. I need da 10pts