Adam is 5 years younger than Eve. In 1 year, Eve will be three times as old as Adam was 4 years ago. Find their ages now.

Answer 1

at present time:
Eve---- x years
Adam --- x-5 years

one year from now, Eve will be x+1
four years ago Adam was x-5 - 4 = x-9

x+1 =3(x-9)
x+1 = 3x - 27
-2x = -28
x=14

so Eve is now 14 and Adam is 9

check:
one year from now Eve will be 15
four years ago Adam was 5
is 15 three times 5 ?? YES