HELP : Algebra Question!

[KevinTheGMAT]

Hey! Im a 13 year old boy...and Im not afraid to admit it. Well, Im having a really hard time with this question. Would you please help me?

My father is 24 years older than I am. In two years, he will be three times as old as I am. How old is each of us, now?

Thanks again for helping me with this question.
Please tell me how to figure it out and the answer!

[agoyal2]

Take:
Child = x
Fater = x+24

After 3 Years:
Child = x+3
Father = x+24 +3

As per the given relationship:
x+27 = 3(x+3)
x+27=3x+9
2x=18
x=9

So, Child = 9 Yrs and Father 33 Yrs

[Ian Stewart]

After 3 Years:
Child = x+3
Father = x+24 +3

...
So, Child = 9 Yrs and Father 33 Yrs

Nice work agoyal, but I think you misread one word in the question:

My father is 24 years older than I am. In two years, he will be three times as old as I am. How old is each of us, now?

So, the child should be 10, the father 34, so that in two years they will be 12 and 36. The algebra (just editing agoyal's work):

Child = x
Father = x+24

After 2 years:
Child = x+2
Father = x+24 +2 = x+26

Since the Father's age is three times the Child's age after 2 years:
x+26 = 3(x+2)
x+26=3x+6
2x=20
x=10

[agoyal2]

Oops! My bad.. I hope I don't make these mistakes when taking the test. Thanks for correcting me Ian!

[KevinTheGMAT]

Thanks guys! This really helped me...