Need help with this frustrating math prob?

Question

Btw, I actually did try figuring this out. Couldn't.

This is exactly what it says:

One bacterial culture is 18 days older than a second bacterial culture. In 10 days, the first culture will be twice the age of the second. Use the verbal and the labels to write and solve an algebraic equation. Find the present age of the two cultures.

Verbal : Age of first culture in 10 days = 2 times age of second culture in 10 days

Labels:

x = age of second culture
x + 10 = age of second culture in 10 days
x + 18 = age of first culture
x + 18 + 10 = age of first culture in 10 days

I've been stuck on this prob for a while. It's only 7th grade math! Could anyone help?

Answer 1

Verbal : Age of first culture in 10 days = 2 times age of second culture in 10 days
Now substitute each verbal expression with its "label":
x + 18 + 10 = 2(x + 10)
Distribute the parentheses, and combine like terms. You have:
x + 28 = 2x + 20
If you solve for "x", you get
8 = x

So ...
The second culture (x) is 8 days old
The first culture (x + 18) is 26 days old