Question 699142
Let {{{x}}} be your current age (that is what you are trying to solve for).

The father's age {{{y}}} is equal to {{{x+41}}} (father was {{{41}}} when you were born).

In {{{5}}} years, you will be {{{x+5}}} years old.

{{{8}}} years ago, your father was {{{x+41-8}}} years old, or {{{x+33}}} years old. At that time, the father was three times as old as you will be in {{{5}}} years, or {{{3*(x+5)}}}.

Now we have an equation that we can solve for {{{x}}} with

{{{x+33}}} (the father's age {{{8}}} years ago) which is equal to {{{3(x+5)}}} (your age {{{5}}} years from now)

{{{x + 33 = 3(x+5)}}}

{{{x + 33 = 3x + 15}}}

{{{18 = 2x}}} 

so, {{{highlight(x = 9)}}}.....you are {{{9}}} years old now

Check this with the original problem to see if the answer makes sense:

you are {{{9}}} now
in {{{5}}} years you will be {{{14}}}
{{{8}}} years ago you were {{{1}}} year old
your father is {{{41+9=50}}} years old now, so {{{8}}} years ago he was {{{42}}}
since {{{42 = 3 * 14}}} , means our answer is correct