If this problem makes sense to anyone, please let me know?

Let

x = Jill's age five years ago

3x = Fred's age five years ago

x + 5 = Jill's age now

3x + 5 = Fred's age now

x + 5 + 4 = Jill's age four years from now (or x + 9)

3x + 5 + 9 = Fred's age four years from now (or 3x + 9)

Note: Fred's age four years from now is twice as Jill's, thereby, 3x + 9 = 2(x + 9)

Now:

3x + 9 = 2x + 18 (by transposition)

3x - 2x = 18 - 9

x = 9 (Jill's age five years ago)

3x = 27 (Fred's age five years ago)

x + 9 = 18 (Jill's age four years from now)

3x + 9 = 36 (Fred's age four years from now)

27 is three time nine.

36 is two times 18.

Let's call Fred's age now F, and Jill's age now J. The problems gives you a set of algebraic equations to solve.

(F - 5) = 3 * (J - 5)

(F + 4) = 2 * (J + 4)

Solve the first one for F in terms of J and plug that F into the second to solve for J, then back-solve for F.

Fred's age = X Jill's age = Y

if X - 5 = 3Y and X = 2Y + 4. Then, find the value of X. Yes. The problem makes sense if you can perform those mathematical operations.

this is simple

let present age of fred be x and jill be y.

then 5 year ago there age were x-5 and y-5.and according to first line of ur quest it implies

x-5=3(y-5)

=> x-3y+10=0 ------- (1)

then 4 yrs later there age will be x+4 and y+4 and according to second line of ur question

x+4=2(y+4)

=> x-2y-4=0 --------------(2)

on solving eq 1 and 2 u will get the values of x and y i.e. the present age of fred and jill respe.

x=32

y=14

(F - 5) = 3 * (J - 5)

(F + 4) = 2 * (J + 4)