Question 1153652

let Jason's age be {{{x}}} and Shauna's age {{{y}}}

if Jason's age is {{{3 }}}times Shauna's present age, we have

{{{x=3y}}} ....eq.1

if in {{{4 }}}years' time, the {{{sum}}} of their ages will be {{{56}}} years, we have

{{{(x+4)+(y+4)=56}}}
{{{x+y+8=56}}}
{{{x+y=56-8}}}
{{{x+y=48}}}.......substitute {{{x}}} from eq.1
{{{3y+y=48}}}
{{{4y=48}}}
{{{y=48/4}}}
{{{y=12}}}

go to eq.1

{{{x=3y}}} ....eq.1,substitute {{{y}}}
{{{x=3*12}}} 
{{{x=36}}} 

their present age: Jason's is {{{36}}} and Shauna's is {{{12}}}