Question 991024
The number of gold coins plus silver coins equals 56.
Let's call the number of gold coins x.
Since the number of silver is 8 more than 3 times the number of gold, we could write it as 8+3X or 3x+8. 
Putting these ways of representing gold and silver coins into the first equation gives:
gold + silver =56
x + (3x+8) = 56
x +3x +8 =56
4x +8 = 56
4x+8-8=56-8
4x+0=48
4x=48
4x/4=48/4
x=12

So the number of gold coins is 12.
Silver must be 3(12)+8 = 36+8  = 44.

Plug these number in to check your work.
gold+silver=56
12+44 does equal 56.