Example: The sum of present ages of Madhu and Raju is 11 years. Madhu is elder than Raju by 9 years. Find their present ages.
Solution: Let the present age of Madhu be x years and the age of Raju be y years.
∴ x + y =11 ................(I)
x - y = 9 .................(II)
2x = 20 adding (I) and (II)
∴ Present age of Madhu is 10 years and of Raju is 1 year.