An oil painting is 16 years older than a watercolor by the same artist. The oil painting is also three times older than the watercolor. How old is each?

Let age of the water color by the artist = x years

Let age of the oil painting by the artist = y years

Given that the oil painting is 16 years older than a watercolor by the same artist.

So we can write:

Age of the oil painting = x+16

or y=x+16 ... (i)

Given that the oil painting is also three times older than the watercolor, So we get equation:

y=3x ... (ii)

using equation (i) and (ii)

3x=x+16

3x-x=16

2x=16

x=8

now plug x=8 into (i)

y=x+16=8+16=24

So the final answer is given by:

Age of the water color = 8 years

Age of the oil painting = 24 years