Question 78589

Let x=son's age now
Then x-2=son's age two years ago
And 4(x-2)=father's age two years ago
So 4(x-2)+2=4x-8+2=4x-6=father's age now
Also x+3=son's age three years for now
And 3(x+3)=father's age three years from now

Now if we subtract 5 years from father's age three years from now, then that will equal father's age two years ago.  So:

3(x+3)-5=4(x-2)  get rid of parens

3x+9-5=4x-8
3x+4=4x-8  subtract 4 and also 4x from both sides

3x-4x+4-4=4x-4x-8-4  collect like terms

-x=-12  divide both sides by -1
x=12-----------------------------------son's age now
4x-6=4*12-6=48-6=42-------------------------father's age now

CK
Two years ago, father was 4 time as old as his son:
4(12-2)=42-2
40=40
also
Three years from now father will only be three times as old as his son

3(12+3)=42+3
45=45


Hope this helps------ptaylor