Answer:
Emily is now 12.
Jacob is now 16.
Explanation:
since Emily is 4yrs younger than Jacob, let Jacob be x and Emily be (x - 4) yrs.
eight yrs ago: Emily is ( x-4-8) = ( x - 12)
Jacob is ( x - 8)
Emily was half Jacob's age: so, we have to balance the ages by either multiplying Emily's age by 2 or dividing Jacob's age by 2. ( I multiplied by 2)
2( x - 12) = x - 8
2x - 24 = x - 8............ Bring the like terms together and solve for x
x = 16, which is Jacob's current age
Emily ( x - 4) = 12 yrs