When solving age problems, you need to represent the

following in terms of a variable:

- the present ages of the people or things involved
- the age, at the other specified time, of the people or
things involved
Then, form an equation based on these
representations.
Here are some examples:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------Cary is 9 years older than Dan. In 7 years, the sum of
their ages will equal 93.
Find both of their ages now.
x = Dan's age now
x + 9 = Cary's age now {Cary is 9 yrs older than Dan}
x + 7 = Dan's age in 7 years
x + 16 = Cary's age in 7 years
x + 7 + x + 16 = 93 {in seven years the sum of their ages
will be 93}
2x + 23 = 93 {combined like terms}
2x = 70 {subtracted 23 from both sides}
x = 35 {divided both sides by 35}
x + 9 = 44 {substituted 35, in for x, into x + 9}
Dan is 35
Cary is 44
------------------------------------------------------------------------------Fred is 4 times as old as his niece, Selma. Ten years from
now,
he will be twice as old as she will be. How old is each
now?
x = Selma's age now
4x = Fred's age now {Fred is 4 times as old as Selma}
x + 10 = Selma's age in 10 years
4x + 10 = Fred's age in 10 years
4x + 10 = 2(x + 10) {his age in 10 yrs is twice her age in
10 years}
4x + 10 = 2x + 20 {used distributive property}
2x + 10 = 20 {subtracted 2x from both sides}
2x = 10 {subtracted 10 from both sides}
x = 5 {divided both sides by 2}
4x = 20 {substituted 5, in for x, into 4x}
Selma is 5 now
Fred is 20 now
------------------------------------------------------------------------------An eagle is 4 times as old as a falcon. Three years ago,

the eagle was 7 times as old as the falcon. Find the

present
age of each bird.
x = falcon's age now
4x = eagle's age now {the eagle is 4 times as old as
falcon}
x - 3 = falcon's age 3 years ago
4x - 3 = eagle's age 3 years ago
4x 3 = 7(x 3) {three years ago, eagle was 7 times the
falcon}
4x 3 = 7x 21 {used distributive property}
4x = 7x -18 {added 3 to both sides}
-3x = -18 {subtracted 7x from both sides}
x = 6 {divided both sides by -3}
4x = 24 {substituted 6, in for x, into 4x}
falcon is 6 now
eagle is 24 now
------------------------------------------------------------------------------Brenda is 4 years older than Walter, and Carol is twice
as old
as Brenda. Three years ago, the sum of their ages was
35.
How old is each now?
x = Walter's age now
x + 4 = Brenda's age now {Brenda is 4 yrs older than
Walter}
2(x + 4) = 2x + 8 = Carol's age now {Carol is twice as old
as Brenda, used distributive property}
x - 3 = Walter's age 3 years ago {subtracted 3 from x}
x + 1 = Brenda's age 3 years ago {subtracted 3 from x +
4}
2x + 5 = Carol's age 3 years ago {subtracted 3 from 2x +
8}
(x - 3) + (x + 1) + (2x + 5) = 35 {sum of ages, 3 years ago,
was 35}
x - 3 + x + 1 + 2x + 5 = 35 {took out parentheses}
4x + 3 = 35 {combined like terms}
4x = 32 {subtracted 3 from both sides}
x = 8 = Walter now {divided both sides by 4}
x + 4 = 12 = Brenda now {substituted 8, in for x, into x +
4}
2(x + 4) = 24 = Carol now {substituted 8, in for x, into 2(x
+ 4)}
Walter is 8 now
Brenda is 12 now
Carol is 24 now
We can solve this problem using either one or two
variables:

Karen is twice as old as Lori. Three years from now, the

sum of their ages will be 42. How old is Karen?

Karen 2x 2x + 3

83.
How old is Pearl right now?
Solution
Jose + 3 = 38
Jose = 38 - 3 = 35
(Jose + 13) + (Pearl + 13) = 83
(35 + 13) + (Pearl + 13) = 83
Pearl + 61 = 83
Pearl = 83 - 61 = 22

Lori x

One-variable solution:
We'll let Lori's age be x. We can set up a chart:
now in 3 years

x+3

The sum of their ages in 3 years will be 42, so we have:

(2x + 3) + (x + 3) = 42
3x + 6 = 42
3x = 36
x = 12
If Lori is 12, Karen is 24; in three years they will be 15
and 27, and the sum of their ages will be 42.
#

Problem

5 years from now Maria will

be 34 years old.
1 The current sum of the ages of
Maria and Mary is 69.
How old is Mary right now?
Solution
Maria + 5 = 34
Maria = 34 - 5 = 29
Maria + Mary = 69
29 + Mary = 69
Mary = 69 - 29 = 40
#

Problem

7 years from now Sharon will

be 49 years old.
2 The current sum of the ages of
Sharon and Peter is 93.
How old is Peter right now?
Solution
Sharon + 7 = 49
Sharon = 49 - 7 = 42
Sharon + Peter = 93
42 + Peter = 93
Peter = 93 - 42 = 51
#

Problem

3 years from now Jose will be

38 years old.
1
In 13 years, the sum of the
ages of Jose and Pearl will be

Correct
Answer

Your
Answer

Correct
Answer

Your
Answer

51

Correct
Answer
22

9 years from now Cindy will be

57 years old.
In 13 years, the sum of the ages
2
of Cindy and Miguel will be
126.
How old is Miguel right now?
Solution
Cindy + 9 = 57
Cindy = 57 - 9 = 48
(Cindy + 13) + (Miguel + 13) = 126
(48 + 13) + (Miguel + 13) = 126
Miguel + 74 = 126
Miguel = 126 - 74 = 52
#

40

Your
Answer

Problem

Problem

8 years from now Cindy will be

twice as old as Paul.
1 The current sum of the ages of
Cindy and Paul is 77.
How old is Paul right now?
Solution
Cindy + 8 = 2 (Paul + 8)
Cindy + Paul = 77
Cindy = 77 - Paul
77 - Paul + 8 = 2 (Paul + 8)
85 - Paul = 2 Paul + 16
85 = 3 Paul + 16
3 Paul = 85 - 16 = 69
Paul = 23

Correct
Answer

Your
Answer

52

Correct
Answer
23

Your
Answer