Question

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

Answer 1

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.