Help with age problem

Question

Sam is twice as old as Jonathan was when Sam was as old as Jonathan is NOW. Their combined ages are 49. How old are each?

Answer 1

s+j =49 now

s and j

25 and 24 24 =2(23? no

26 and 23 23 = 2(20) no

27 and 22 22 = 2(17 no

28 and 21 21 = 2(14 no

29 and 20 20 = 2(11) closer

30 and 19 19 =2(8 no worse

31 and 18 18 =2(5 even worse

somewhere between 29 and 20 and 30&19

29 1/2 and 19 1/2 19 1/2 = 2(9 1/2) = 19 very close 1/2 off

29 1/3 and 19 2/3 19 2/3 = 2(10) = 20 closer 1/3 off

29 3/8 and 19 5/8 19 5/8 = 2(9 7/8 =19 6/8 1/8 off

29 7/16 and 19 9/16 19 14/16 = 2(9 15/16 = 19 14/16 BINGO or very close otherwise

Sam is now 29 7/16 Jonathan is now 19 9/16 that sums to 49

when Sam was 19 9/16 that was 9 14/16 yrs ago

19 9/16 - 9 14/16 = 9 15/16 = Jonathans age when Sam was 19 9/16

19 9/16 = 2(9 15/16 = 19 14/16