tom is eight years older than steve. three years ago, steve was two years more than one third as old as tom was then. how old is tom now? answer pls

Answer 1

t = s+8
(s-3) = 2 + (t-3)/3

Now just solve for t.

s = t-8, so
(t-8-3) = 2 + (t-3)/3
t-11 = 2 + (t-3)/3
t-13 = (t-3)/3
3t-39 = t-3
2t = 36
t = 18