SOLUTION: john is three times the age of melissa. six years ago, the sum of their ages was 48. how old are they now?

"six years ago, the sum of their ages was 48" - hence, now the sum of their ages is 48 + 2*6 = 48 + 12 = 60 years.


So, we know that J is three times M and the sum J + M is 60.


Hence (solving mentally), M  is 15 years old, while John is 3*15 = 45 years old now.    ANSWER