A mother is three times as old as her son. Eight years ago, she was 4 more than five times the age of her son. How old is the mother now?

M=mother age

s=son age

mother is 3 times son

m=3s

8 years ago (m-8 and s-8)

mother was 4 more than 5 times son

m-8=4+5 (s-8)

m-8=4+5s-40

m-8=5s-36

m=3s

sub 3s for m

3s-8=5s-36

minus 3s both sides

-8=2s-36

add 36 to boh sides

28=2s

divide by 2 both sides

14=s

sub back

m=3s

m=3 (14)

m=42

mother=42