Answer :
x - age of Mikhail's
3x - age of Gabrielle (three times Mikhail's age)
x + 3x = 56
4x = 56 |:4
x = 14 <-- age Mikhail
3 * x = 14 * 3 = 42 <-- age Gabrielle
As is clear from the job three times the 14 to 42 by adding 14 gives 56, which is behind what they have in total.
3x - age of Gabrielle (three times Mikhail's age)
x + 3x = 56
4x = 56 |:4
x = 14 <-- age Mikhail
3 * x = 14 * 3 = 42 <-- age Gabrielle
As is clear from the job three times the 14 to 42 by adding 14 gives 56, which is behind what they have in total.
G=3M
G+M=56
-------------------------------------------
3M+M=56
4M=56
M=56/4=14
---------------------------------------------
G+14=56
G=42
---------------------------------------------
So Gabriel is 42 and Mikhail is 14.
G+M=56
-------------------------------------------
3M+M=56
4M=56
M=56/4=14
---------------------------------------------
G+14=56
G=42
---------------------------------------------
So Gabriel is 42 and Mikhail is 14.