Answer:
the present age of the old ship is 8 years
The present age of the new ship is 4 years
Step-by-step explanation:
Let the age of the older ship be x
Let the age of newer ship be y
If the sum of ages of two ship 12years old, then;
x + y = 12 .... 1
Two years ago;
Older ship age = x - 2
New ship age = y - 2
If two years ago, the age of the older ship was three times the age of the newer ship, then;
x - 2 = 3(y-2)
x-2 = 3y - 6
x = 3y - 4 ....2
Substitute equation 2 into 1;
From 1; x+ y = 12
3y-4+y = 12
4y = 12 + 4
4y = 16
y = 4
Since x+y = 12
x = 12-y
x= 12-4
x = 8
Hence the present age of the old ship is 8 years
The present age of the new ship is 4 years
