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

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 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

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 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

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 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 x +7 x+7 x + 7 – ( x + 7) = 30

SEVEN YEARS AGO x x

x + 7 – ( x + 7) = 30

x +7 - x - 7 = 30 (Remove brackets)

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

x = 30 (Collect like terms)

x = 60 (Multiply throughout by 2)

x + 7 = 67

x + 7 = 37

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

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 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

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 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 y y – x = 30
SEVEN YEARS AGO x-7 y-7 y – 7 = 2(x – 7)

y – x = 30 (1)

y – 7 = 2(x – 7)

 y - 7= 2x - 14

y – 2x = -7 (2)

(1) – (2): x = 30 – (-7)

 x = 37 (3)

Substituting x = 37 from (3) in (1) yields

y – 37 = 30
 y = 67

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

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