Question

The sum of the present ages of a mother and her son is 36 years. Two years hence
mother will be three times as old as her son will be. Find their present ages.​

Answer 1

let the present age of mother be x and son be y

by 1st condition

x+y=36-(1)

by 2nd condition

x+2=3(y+2)

x+2=3y+6

x-3y+2-6=0

x-3y-4=0

x-3y=4-(2)

solving (1),(2)

x+y=36

x-3y=4

4y=32

y=8

substitute y in any equation

x=28

present age of mother is 28 years

present age of son is 8 years