Question 837833
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.