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.