SOLUTION: A father is now only three times as old as his son but eight years ago the father was five times as old as his son. Find their present ages.

Question 837833: A father is now only three times as old as his son but eight years ago the father was five times as old as his son. Find their present ages.
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let f = father's present age
let s = son's present age
:
A father is now only three times as old as his son
f = 3s
:
eight years ago the father was five times as old as his son.
f - 8 = 5(s-8)
f - 8 = 5s - 40
f = 5s - 40 + 8
f = 5s - 32
Replace f with 3s from the 1st statement
3s = 5s - 32
32 = 5s - 3s
32 = 2s
s = 16 is son's present age
I'll let you find father's age, check your solutions in the 2nd statement

Find their present ages.
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