SOLUTION: mariis one-fourth as old as his father next year their ages will total 42 years how old is each now?

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Question 1009455: mariis one-fourth as old as his father next year their ages will total 42 years how old is each now?
Answer by fractalier(6550) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Call their ages NOW, m and f.
Thus we have
m = (1/4)f or f = 4m
and
(m+1) + (f+1) = 42
Substitute and get
m+1 + 4m+1 = 42
5m + 2 = 42
5m = 40
m = 8
f = 32