Question 1009455
Call their ages NOW, m and f.
Thus we have
m = (1/4)f  or f = 4m 
and

(m+1) + (f+1) = 42
Substitute and get
m+1 + 4m+1 = 42
5m + 2 = 42
5m = 40
m = 8
f = 32