Question 130466
Let x=Martha's present age; x-8=Martha's age 8 years ago

Then 2x+6=Kates present age; (2x+6)-8=2x-2=Kates age 8 years ago
Now we are told that:

4(x-8)=2x-2+6  get rid of parens

4x-32=2x+4 subtract 2x from each side and add 32 to each side

4x-2x-32+32=2x-2x+4+32  collect like terms

2x=36  divide both sides by 2
x=18-----------------Martha's present age
2x+6=2*18+6=42-------------------Kates present age

CK

---Kate's age exceeds twice Martha's age by 6 years---
2*18+6=42
42=42
also
----Eight years ago, four times Martha's age exceeded Kate's age by 6 years---
4*(18-8)=(42-8)+6
4*10=44+6
40=40


Hope this helps---ptaylor