Question

Toms age minus bobs age is 2 bobs age is 82 less than three times toms age how old is Tom and bob

Answer 1

Answer: Tom's age is 40 and Bob's age is 38.

To answer this problem, you must write the 2 equations given in the directions. 

They could be:

t - b = 2   and    b = 3t - 82

Input the second equation into the first equation at the variable be and solve.

t - (3t - 82) = 2
t - 3t + 82 = 2
-2t + 82 = 2 
-2t = -80
t = 40

So Tom is 40. And since t - b = 2, Bob must be 38.