PROBLEMS INVOLVING AGES

PROBLEM 1

A father is now 30 years older than his son. Four years ago, his age was double
that of his son. Calculate their ages.

SOLUTION

METHOD 1

SON FATHER RELATIONSHIP

NOW x (x + 30)

SEVEN YEARS AGO (x – 7) (x + 23) x + 23 = 2(x – 7)

x + 23 = 2(x – 7)

x + 23 = 2x – 14 (Remove brackets)

x – 2x = -14 -23 (Variable to LHS and numerals to RHS)

-x = -37 (Collect like terms)

x = 37 (Divide throughout by -1)

x + 30 = 67

Therefore the father is 67 years old and his son is 37 years old

www.macefitsconsultingservicescc.com Page 1 of 7 @ Macefits Consulting Services CC

PROBLEMS INVOLVING AGES

PROBLEM 1

A father is now 30 years older than his son. Four years ago, his age was double
that of his son. Calculate their ages.

SOLUTION

METHOD 2

SON FATHER RELATIONSHIP

NOW (x + 7) (2x + 7) (2x + 7) – (x + 7) = 30

SEVEN YEARS AGO x 2x

(2x + 7) – (x + 7) = 30

2x + 7 – x – 7 = 30 (Remove brackets)

2x – x = 30 – 7 + 7 (Variable to LHS and numerals to RHS)

x = 30 (Collect like terms)

x + 7 = 30 + 7 (Substitution)

= 37

2x + 7 = 2(30) + 7 (Substitution)

= 67

Therefore the father is 67 years old and his son is 37 years old

www.macefitsconsultingservicescc.com Page 2 of 7 @ Macefits Consulting Services CC

PROBLEMS INVOLVING AGES
PROBLEM 1

A father is now 30 years older than his son. Four years ago, his age was double
that of his son. Calculate their ages.

SOLUTION

METHOD 3

SON FATHER RELATIONSHIP

NOW (x – 30) x

SEVEN YEARS AGO (x – 37( (x – 7) (x – 7) = 2(x – 37)

x – 7 = 2(x – 37)

x – 7 = 2x – 74 (Remove brackets)

x – 2x = - 74 + 7 (Variable to LHS and numerals to RHS)

-x = -67 (Collect like terms)

x = 67 (Divide throughout by -1)

x – 30 = 37

Therefore the father is 67 years old and his son is 37 years old

www.macefitsconsultingservicescc.com Page 3 of 7 @ Macefits Consulting Services CC

PROBLEMS INVOLVING AGES
PROBLEM 1

A father is now 30 years older than his son. Four years ago, his age was double
that of his son. Calculate their ages.

SOLUTION

METHOD 4

SON FATHER RELATIONSHIP

NOW (1/2x + 7) (x + 7) (x + 7) - (1/2x + 7) = 30

1
SEVEN YEARS AGO /2x x

(x + 7) - (1/2x + 7) = 30

x + 7 - 1/2x – 7 = 30 (Remove brackets)

x - 1/2x = 30 – 7 + 7 (Variables on LHS and numerals on RHS)

1
/2x = 30 (Collect like terms)

x = 60 (Multiply throughout by 2)

 (x + 7) = 67

 ( 1/2x + 7) = 37

Therefore the father is 67 years old and his son is 37 years old

www.macefitsconsultingservicescc.com Page 4 of 7 @ Macefits Consulting Services CC

PROBLEMS INVOLVING AGES
PROBLEM 1

A father is now 30 years older than his son. Four years ago, his age was double
that of his son. Calculate their ages.

SOLUTION

METHOD 5

SON FATHER RELATIONSHIP

NOW x y y – x = 30

SEVEN YEARS AGO (x – 7) (y – 7) y – 7 = 2(x – 7)

y – x = 30

 y = x + 30 (1)

y – 7 = 2(x – 7)

 y = 2x -14+7 (2)

2x – 14 + 7 = x + 30 Each = y

 2x – x = 30 + 14 – 7 (Variable to LHS and numerals to RHS)

 x = 37 (Collect like terms)

 y = x + 30

 y = 37 + 30 (Substitution)

 y = 67

Therefore the father is 67 years old and his son is 37 years old

www.macefitsconsultingservicescc.com Page 5 of 7 @ Macefits Consulting Services CC

PROBLEMS INVOLVING AGES
PROBLEM 1

A father is now 30 years older than his son. Four years ago, his age was double
that of his son. Calculate their ages.

SOLUTION

METHOD 6

SON FATHER RELATIONSHIP

NOW (x + 7) (y + 7) (y + 7) – (x + 7) = 30

SEVEN YEARS AGO x y y = 2x

(y + 7) – (x + 7) = 30

y + 7 – x – 7 = 30 (Remove brackets)

y – x = 30 [Collect like terms] (1)

y = 2x (2)

Substitute y = 2x from (2) in (1):

 2x – x = 30

 x = 30 (3)

Substitute x = 30 from (3) in (2):

 y = 2(30) = 60

 (x + 7) = 37

 (y + 7) = 67

Therefore the father is 67 years old and his son is 37 years old

www.macefitsconsultingservicescc.com Page 6 of 7 @ Macefits Consulting Services CC

PROBLEMS INVOLVING AGES
EXERCISE

1. Maria is 4 years younger than her sister Mary and 19 years older than her
son David. How old is each one of the three?
2. A father is twice as old as his son. Five years ago the father was 2 1/2 times
as old as his son. How old is each one of them now?

3. A father is ten times as old as his son. In five years’ time he will be four
times as old his son. Find their present ages.

4. Sharon’s mother is twice as old as Sharon. Ten years ago the sum of their
ages was 49. How old is each one now?

5. Peter is 32 years younger than his father. In ten years’ time the sum of their
ages will be 86. How old are they now?

www.macefitsconsultingservicescc.com Page 7 of 7 @ Macefits Consulting Services CC