Question 234577
Write an equation for each statement:
:
"Two years ago a father was four times as old as his son."
f - 2 = 4(s - 2)
simplify
f - 2 = 4s - 8
f = 4s - 8 + 2
f = 4s - 6
:
" Three years from now the father will only be three times as old as his son."
f + 3 = 3(s + 3)
f + 3 = 3s + 9
f = 3s + 9 - 3
f = 3s + 6
:
 How old is each now?
From the 1st simplified equation, replace f in the above equation with (4s-6)
4s - 6 = 3s + 6
4s - 3s = 6 + 6
s = 12
:
I'm sure you get the idea  now, you were on the right track.