Word Problems

1. Twice of a number minus three times of x3 5

another number is equals to 2 and the sum of
Case 2: 
y3 6
these numbers is11. Find the numbers.
 6  x  3  5  y  3
Sol: Let the two numbers be x and y
 6 x  18  5 y  15
2 x  3 y  2...... 1
 6 x  5 y  3..........  2 
x  y  11........  2 
11x  9 y  4]  5
on solving x  7, y  4
6 x  5 y  3]  9
2. A man buys postage stamps of denominations
25 paisa and 50 paisa for ₹ 10. He buys 28
55 x  45 y  20
stamps in all. find the number of 25 paisa subtracting  54 x 45 y  27
stamps bought by him. Ans: x  0 =7
x  16, y  12
x  7
Sol: Let number of 25 paisa stamps = x and
By substitution
number of 50 paisa stamps = y
6 x  3  5 y
25 50
x y  10 3  5 y
100 100 x  .....  3 
1 1 6
x  y  10
4 2
x  2y put  3 in 1
 10
4  3  5 y 
11   9 y  4
 x  2 y  40...... 1  6 
and x  y  28.........  2  33  55 y  54 y
 4
6
9
3. A fraction becomes , if 2 is added to both 33  y  24
11
numerator and denominator. If 3 is added to y 9
both the numerator and denominator it 7
on solving x  7 and y  9  fraction 
5 9
becomes . Find the fraction.
6
7 4. If the numerator and denominator of a fraction
Ans are increased by 2 and 1 respectively, it becomes
9
Sol: Let the numerator be x and denominator 3
. If the numerator and denominator are
be y 4
x 1
 fraction  decreased by 2 and 1 respectively, it becomes .
2
y
Find the fraction.
x2 9
Case 1:  Sol: Let the numerator be x and denominator be
y  2 11 y
 11 x  2   9  y  2  x
 fraction 
 11x  22  9 y  18 y
 11x  9 y  4.......... 1 case1:
x2 3

y 1 4

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 4  x  2   3  y  1 x  3 y  12 ……..(1)
4x  8  3y  3 Case2: three years ago,
age of father =  x  3 years
4 x  3 y  5......... 1
x2 1 age of son =  y  3 years
case 2: 
y 1 2   x  3  9  y  3 
2x  4  y 1 x  3  9 y  27
2 x  y  3.......  2  x  9 y  24 ……..(2)
from (2), 2 x  3  y …….(3) on solving x  30, y  6
Put (3) in (1)  age of father = 30 years, age of son = 6 years
4 x  3  2 x  3  5 .
7. Five years ago, A was thrice as old as B and
4 x  6 x  9  5
ten years later A shall be twice as old as B.
2 x  14 what are the present ages of A and B.
 x  7 and y  2  7   3  14  3  11 Sol: Let present age of A be x years and
x 7 present age of B be y years
 fraction   Ans case1: five years ago
y 11
5. The sum of numerator and denominator of a age of A =  x  5 years
fraction is 4 more than twice the numerator. If
Age of B =  y  5 years
the numerator and denominator each are
increased by 1, they are in the ratio 2:3. Find  x  5  3  y  5
the fraction. x  5  3 y  15
Sol: Let the numerator be x and denominator
x  3 y  10 ….(1)
be y
Case2: ten years later
x
 fraction  age of A=  x  10  years
y
case1: x  y =4  2 x Age of B =  y  10  years

 x  y  4...... 1   x  10   2  y  10 
x 1 2 x  10  2 y  20
case 2: 
y 1 3 x  2 y  10 …….(2)
3x  3  2 y  2 on solving x  50, y  20
3x  2 y  1.......  2   age of A= 50 years , age of B = 20 years.
8. A man’s age is three times the sum of the age
6. Six years hence a man’s age will be three
of his two sons. After 5 years his age will be
times his son’s age and three years ago he was
twice the sum of the age of his two sons. Find
nine times as old as his son. Find their present
the age of the man.
ages.
Sol: Let man’s age of man be x years and
Sol: Let age of man be x years and age of son
sum of ages of two sons be y years
be y years
case1: six years hence (after 6 years) Case1: x  3 y ……(1)
Case 2: after 5 years
age of father =  x  6  years
age of man =  x  5 years
age of son =  y  6  years
Sum of ages of two sons after 5 years =
 x  6  3  y  6  y  10 years
x  6  3 y  18
  x  5  2  y  10 
Phoenix Institute Of Mathematics and Science, SCF-33-34, Phase 10, Mohali (7696252855) Page 2
 x  5  2 y  20 number.
x  2 y  15 ……(2) Sol: Let the unit digit number be x and tens
On solving x  45 and y  15 digit be y

 age of man = 45 years. Original number = 10 y  x

9. The sum of the digits of a two digit number is on interchanging the digits,
5. The digit obtained by increasing the digit in new number = 10x  y
ten’s place by unity is one – eighth of the Case1: 10 y  x  10 x  y  132
number. Find the number.
11x  11y  132
Sol: Let the unit digit be x and let the tens
digit be y x  y  12......... 1
original number = 10 y  x Case2: x  y  2 or y  x  2 …….(2)
Case 1: x  y  5 …..(1) Solving x  y  12 and x  y  2 , we get
unit digit = x and tens digit = y x  7 and y  5
 original number = 10 y  x  number is 10  5  7  57
1
Case 2: y  1  10 y  x  12. A two-digit is four times the sum of its digits
8 and twice the product of its digits. Find the
8  y  1  10 y  x number.
Sol: Let the unit digit be x and tens digit be
8 y  8  10 y  x
y
8  2 y  x ………(2)
 original number = 10 y  x
Put (2) in (1) and on solving
Case 1:
x  2, y  3
10 y  x  4  x  y 
 number = 10  3  2  32 Ans.
10 y  x  4 x  4 y
10. A two digit number is seven times the sum of
its digits. The number formed by reversing 6 y  3x  2 y  x.... 1
the digits is 18 less than the original number. Case2: 10 y  x  2 xy.....  2 
Find the number.
Sol: Let the unit digit be x and let the tens 10 y  2 y  2  2 y  y  x  2y
digit be y 10 y  2 y  4 y 2
original number = 10 y  x
4 y 2  12 y  0
on reversing the digits, new number =
10x  y 4 y  y  3  0
y  0 y  3  0
Case 1: 10 y  x  7  x  y 
 y  3 and x  2 y  2  3  6
10 y  x  7 x  7 y
3y  6x  original number = 10 y  x  10  3  6  36
 y  2 x ……(1) Ans.
Case 2: 10 x  y  10 y  x  18 13. 3 men and 4 boys can do a piece of work in
14 days, while 4 men and 6 boys can do it in
9 x  9 y  18
10 days. How long would it take 1 boy to
 x  y  2 ……(2) finish the work.
On solving (1) and (2) , x  2, y  4 Sol: Concept of man days work……
 original number is 10  4   2  42 Ans.
Let number of days taken by 1 man to finish
the work = x days
11. The sum of a two digit number and the number of days taken by 1 boy to finish the
number obtained by interchanging the digits
work = y days
is 132. If the digits differ by 2, find the

Phoenix Institute Of Mathematics and Science, SCF-33-34, Phase 10, Mohali (7696252855) Page 3
 1 250 120
1 man’s 1 day work = Case1:   4 ……(1)
x x y
1 130 240 18
and 1 boy’s I day work = Case2:   4
y x y 60
3 4 1 130 240 3 43
Case1:   ...... 1 Case2:   4  ….(2)
x y 14 x y 10 10
4 6 1 1 1
  ...... 2 Let  a and  b
x y 10 x y
Let
1 1
 a and  b 250a  120b  4......  3
x y
43
1 1 130a  240b  ......  4 
 3a  4b  .........  3 and 4a  6b  .......  4  10
14 10 multiply (3) by 2, we get
500a  240b  8
Multiply (3) by 4 and (4) by 3, we get
43
2 130a  240b  
12a  16b  10
7
3 43
12a  18b   370a  0  8 
10 10
80  43
2 3 370a 
0  2b   10
7 10
37
20  21 1 370a 
2b   10
70 70
1 1
1 a    x  100km / hr
b 100 x
140
1 1
 1  2 and b  
12a  16   80 y
 140  7
 y  80km / hr
2 4
12a  
and 7 35
15. Ankita travels 14km to her home partly by
6
12a  rickshaw and partly by bus. She takes half an
35 hour is she travels 2km by rickshaw and the
1 remaining distance by bus. On the other hand if
a
70 she travels 4km by rickshaw and the remaining
1 1 distance by bus she takes 9 minutes longer. Find
x   70 and y   140 the speed of rickshaw and the bus.
a b
Sol: Let the speed of rickshaw be x km / hr
 I boy takes 140 days to finish the work.
and the speed of bus y km/hr
14. A man travels 370 km partly by train and
2 12 1
partly by car. If he covers 250 km by train and Case1:   ..... 1
the rest by car. it takes him 4 hours. But if he x y 2
travels 130 km by train and the rest by car he D
takes 18 minutes longer. Find the speed the as T
S
train and the speed of the car.
4 10 39
Sol: Let speed of train = x km/hr and speed Case 2:   ........  2 
x y 60
D
of car = y km/hr as T  1 1
S Let  a and b
x y

Phoenix Institute Of Mathematics and Science, SCF-33-34, Phase 10, Mohali (7696252855) Page 4
 1 17. A boat goes 30km upstream and 44km downstream
 2a  12b  .....  3 and in 10 hours. In 13 hours it goes 40km upstream and
2
55km downstream. Determine the speed of the
13
4a  10b  .......  4  streams and that of the boat in still water.
20 Sol: Let speed of boat in still water be x km/hr and
Multiply (3) by 2 speed of stream be y km/hr
4a  24b  1
Speed downstream =  x  y  km/hr
13
4a  10b   speed upstream =  x  y  km/hr
20
13 30 44
0  14b  1  Case1:   10 …...(1)
20 x y x y
7 40 55
14b  Case2:   13 ……(2)
20 x y x y
1 1 1
b   y  40 Let  a and b
40 x y x y
1
and a   x  10 30a  44b  10.......  3
10
Hence speed of rickshaw is 10 km/hr and speed 40a  55b  13.....  4 
of bus is 40km/hr
16. Places A and B are 100km apart on a highway. On solving….
One car starts from A and another from B at the 1 1
a and b 
same time. If the cars travel in the same 5 11
direction at different speeds they meet in 5 1 1 1 1
hours. If they travel towards each other they  and 
x y 5 x  y 11
meet in 1 hour. What are the speeds of the two
cars?  x  y  5 and x  y  11
Sol: let speed of car I be x km/hr on adding x  8 and y  3
and speed of car II be y k/hr Hence speed of boat in still water is 8 km/hr
Case1: Distance AC travelled by car I = 5x km and speed of stream is 3 km/hr
Distance BC travelled by car II = 5y km
Practice Problems…..
AB  100
AC  BC  100 1
1. A fraction becomes when 2 is subtracted
5 x  5 y  100 3
 x  y  20 ……(1) 1
from numerator and it becomes when 1 is
Case2: 2
Distance AD travelled by car I = 1x km subtracted from the denominator. Find the
fraction.
Distance BD travelled by car II = 1y km
Sol: Let the numerator be x
AB  100
and denominator be y
AD  BD  100
x
x  y  100 …….(2)  fraction 
y
Adding (1) an (2)
x2 1
2x  120 Case 1: 
 x  60 and y  40 y 3
Hence speed of car I is 60km/hr and speed of  3  x  2  y
car II is 40 km/hr.  3x  6  y
 3x  y  6 …….(1)

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 Case 2:
x

1  4  x  8  3  y  8
y 1 2  4 x  32  3 y  24
 2x  y 1  4 x  3 y  8 ……(2)
 2 x  y  1 ……(2) on solving (1) and (2), we get
using elimination method, we have x  25 and y  36
3x  y  6 25
2 x y 1  fraction is Ans.
36
x0 7 4. Five years hence, a man’s age will be three
and y  15 times the age of his son. Five years ago, the
man was seven times as old as his son. Find
7
fraction is Ans. their present ages.
15
Sol: Let present age of man be x years
2. The sum of the numerator and denominator of a
and present age of son be y years
fraction is 4 more than twice the numerator. If
the numerator and denominator are increased Case1: Five years hence
by 3, they are in the ratio 2:3. Find the fraction. age of man was  x  5 years
Sol: Let the numerator be x age of son  y  5 years
and denominator be y A.T.Q,  x  5  3  y  5
x  x  5  3 y  15
fraction 
y  x  3 y  10 …….(1)
Case1: x  y  2 x  4 Case2: Five years ago
  x  y  4 ……(1) age of man was  x  5 years
x3 2 age of son was  y  5 years
Case2: 
y3 3 A.T.Q., we have x  5  7  y  5
 3  x  3  2  y  3   x  5  7 y  35
 3x  9  2 y  6  x  7 y  30 …….(2)
 3 x  2 y  3 …….(2) on solving 91) and (2), we have
on solving, we have x  5 and y  9 x  40 and y  10
5 hence, age of man = 40 years and age of son is
fraction is Ans. 10 years.
9
5. Two years ago, a man was five times as old as
3. The denominator of a fraction is greater than
his son. Two years later. His age will be 8 more
the numerator by 11. If 8 is added to both
than three times the age of his son. Find their
3
numerator and denominator, it becomes . present ages.
4 Sol: Let present age of man be x years
Find the fraction. and present age of son be y years
Sol: Let the numerator be x
Case1: Two years ago
and denominator be y
age of man was  x  2 years
x age of son  y  2 years
fraction 
y
A.T.Q,  x  2   5  y  2 
Case1: y  x  11
 x  2  5 y  10
  x  y  11 …….(1)
 x  5 y  8 …….(1)
x 8 3
Case2:  Case2: Two years hence
y 8 4
age of man was  x  2 years

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 age of son was  y  2 years 2x  3y  7
A.T.Q., we have x  2  3  y  2   8  a  b  x   a  b  3  y  4a  b
 x  2  3y  6  8 Sol: For infinitely many solution we have
 x  3 y  12 …….(2) a1 b1 c1
 
on solving (1) and (2), we have a2 b2 c2
x  42 and y  10 2 3 7
  
Hence age of man is 42 years and age of son is  a  b    a  b  3  4a  b
10 years. 2 3 7
6. The present age of a woman is 3 years more   
than three times the age of her daughter. Three
 a  b   a  b  3  4a  b
years hence, the woman’s age will be 10 years  2  a  b  3  3  a  b  Using I and II
more than twice the age of her daughter. Find  a  b  6 …..(1)
their present ages. Using I and III, we have
Sol: Let present of woman be x years and 9. A man can row downstream 20 km in 2 hours,
present of her daughter be y years. and upstream 4 km in 2 hours. Find its speed of
Case1: x  3 y  3 rowing in still water. Also, find the speed of the
 x  3 y  3 …… (1) current.
Case 2: three years hence, Sol: Let speed of rowing be x km/hr
and speed of stream be y km/hr
age of woman   x  3 years
Speed downstream   x  y  km/hr
age of her daughter   y  3 years
Speed upstream   x  y  km/hr
A.T.Q., we have x  3  2  y  3  10
Case1: Using Speed  Time = Distance
 x  2 y  6  10  3
  x  y   2  20
 x  2 y  13 ……..(2)
on solving (1) and (2), we have   x  y   10 ……(1)
x  33 and y  10 Case 2:  x  y   2  4
hence age of woman is 33 years and age of her
 x  y  2 …….(2)
daughter is 10 years.
solving (1) and (2), we get
7. If twice the son’s age in years is added to the
father’s age, the sum is 70. But, if twice the x  6km / hr and y  4km / hr .
father’s age is added to son’s age, the sum is 10. A boat goes 16 km upstream and 24 km
95. Find the ages of father and son. downstream in 6 hours. Also, it covers 12 km
Sol: Let age of father be x years upstream and 36 km downstream in the same
and age of son be y years time. Find the speed of the boat in still water
and that of the stream.
Case 1: 2 y  x  70
Sol: Let speed of boat in still be x km/hr
 x  2 y  70 ……(1) and speed of stream be y km/hr
Case2: 2 x  y  95 ……(2)
Speed downstream   x  y  km/hr
on solving (1) and (2) , we get
x  40 and y  15 Speed upstream   x  y  km/hr
Hence age of father is 40 years and age of son  D
Case1: TU  TD  6  Using T  
is 15 years.  S
8. Find the values of a and b for which the
16 24
following equations has infinitely many    6 …….(1)
solutions
 x  y  x  y
Case2: TU  TD  6

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 12 36 13. A takes 10 days less than the time taken by B to
   6 …….(2)
 x  y  x  y finish a piece of work. If both A and B can finish
the work in 12 days, find the time taken by B to
1 1
for solving let  a and b finish the work.
x y x y Sol: Let time taken by A to finish the work  x days
 16a  24b  6 …….(3) and time taken by B to finish the work  y days
and 12a  36b  6 …….(4) 1
on solving (3) and (4) A’s 1 day work 
x
1 1 1
we get a  and b 
4 12 and B’s 1 day work 
y
1 1 1 1
  and  Case1: x  y  10 ……(1)
x y 4 x  y 12
1 1 1
 x  y  4 and x  y  12 Case 2:   ……(2)
x y 12
on solving for x and y , we get
yx 1
x  8km / hr and y  4km / hr  
xy 12
11. A sailor goes 8 km downstream in 40 minutes  12  x  y   xy
and returns in 1 hour. Find the speed of the putting (1) in (2), we get
sailor in still water and the speed of the current.  12  y  10  y    y  10  y
Sol: Let speed of sailor be x km/hr
and speed of stream be y km/hr  12  2 y  10   y 2  10 y

Speed downstream   x  y  km/hr  24 y  120  y 2  10 y

Speed upstream   x  y  km/hr  y 2  34 y  120  0

Case1: Using Speed  Time = Distance  y 2  30 y  4 y  120  0

40  y  y  30   4  y  30   0
  x  y 8
60   y  4  y  30   0
2
  x  y  8  y  4  rejected 
3
 x  y  12 ……(1) ( if y  4 , then x  4 10  6 (not possible) )

Case 2: Using Speed  Time = Distance hence y  30 and x  20

A takes 20 days to finish the work and
  x  y  1  8
B takes 30 days to finish the work.
 x  y  8 ……(2) 14. 8 men and 12 boys can finish a piece of work in 5
on solving (1) and (2), we get days, while 6 men and 8 boys can finish it in 7
x  10km / hr and y  2 km / hr . days. Find the time taken by 1 man and 1 boy to
12. Places A and B are 160km apart on a highway. finish the work.
2
One car starts from A and another from B at the 15. The area of a rectangle gets reduced by 67 m ,
same time. If the cars travel in the same direction when its length is increased by 3 m and breadth is
at different speeds they meet in 8 hours. If they decreased by 4m. If the length is reduced by 1m
travel towards each other they meet in 2 hour. and breadth is increased by 4m, the area is
What are the speeds of the two cars? [Try 2
increased by 89 m . Find the dimensions of the
Yourself]
rectangle.
Ans: x  50km / hr and y  30km / hr
Sol: Let the length be x m
and breadth be y m
area of the rectangle  xy m 2
Phoenix Institute Of Mathematics and Science, SCF-33-34, Phase 10, Mohali (7696252855) Page 8
 Case1: new length   x  3 m  x  3 y  2  xy  74
new breadth   y  4  m  xy  2 x  3 y  6  xy  74
 2 x  3 y  68 ……(2)
new area   x  3 y  4  m2
Solving (1) and (2) , we get
A.T,Q., we have
x  19m and y  10m .
 x  3 y  4  xy  67 Hence length of rectangle is 19 m and breadth of
 xy  4 x  3 y  12  xy  67 rectangle is 10 m .
  4 x  3 y  55 17. A man travels 370km, partly by train and partly by
 4 x  3 y  55 …….(1) car. If he covers 250km by train and rest by car, it
takes him 4 hours. But, if he travels 130km by
Case2: new length   x  1 m
train and the rest by car, he takes 18 minutes
new breadth   y  4  m longer. Find the speed of the train and the car.
Sol: Let the speed of train be x km / hr
new area   x  1 y  4  m2
and speed of car be y km / hr
A.T,Q., we have
Case 1: TT  TC  4
 x  1 y  4  xy  89
 xy  4 x  y  4  xy  89
250 120  D
   4 …….(1)  T  
x y  S
 4 x  y  93 …….(2)
18
solving (1) and (2), we get Case2: TT  TC  4 
x  28m and y  19m . 60
130 240 3
Hence length of rectangle is 28m    4
and breadth of rectangle is 19 m . x y 10
2
16. The area of a rectangle gets reduced by 8 m ,
130 240 43
   ……(2)
when its length is reduced by 5 m and breadth is x y 10
increased by 3m. If the length is increased by 3m For solving (1) and (2), we assume
and breadth 2m, the area is increased by 74 m .
2 1 1
 a and  b
Find the dimensions of the rectangle. x y
Sol: Let the length be x m we get, 250a  120b  4 …….(3)
and breadth be y m 43
and 130a  240b  …….(4)
area of the rectangle  xy m 2 10
multiply (3) by 2
Case1: new length   x  5 m
500a  240b  8
new breadth   y  3 m 43
130a  240b  
new area   x  5 y  3 m 2 10
A.T,Q., we have 43
370a  0.b  8 
 x  5 y  3  xy  8 10
37
 xy  3x  5 y  15  xy  8 370a 
10
 3x  5 y  7 ……(1)
1 1
Case2: new length   x  3 m a and b 
100 80
new breadth   y  2  m 1 1
x   100 km / hr and y   80 km / hr
new area   x  3 y  2  m2 a b
18. A man travelled 300 km by train and 200 km by
A.T,Q., we have taxi taking 5 hours and 30 minutes. But, if he
travels 260 km by train and 240 km by taxi, he

Phoenix Institute Of Mathematics and Science, SCF-33-34, Phase 10, Mohali (7696252855) Page 9
 takes 6 minutes longer. Find the speed of the
train and that of the taxi.
Sol: Let the speed of train be x km / hr
and speed of car be y km / hr
Case 1: TT  TC  4
300 200 30  D
   5  T 
x y 60  S
300 200 1
  5
x y 2
300 200 11
   …….(1)
x y 2
18
Case2: TT  TC  4 
60
260 240 36
   5
x y 60
260 240 3
   5
x y 5
260 240 28
   ……(2)
x y 5
For solving (1) and (2), we assume
1 1
 a and  b
x y
11
 300a  200b  …..(3)
2
28
and 260a  240b  ……(4)
5
1 1
on solving, we get a  and b 
100 80
1 1
 x   100 km / hr and y   80 km / hr
a b
19. A lending library has a fixed charge for the first
three days and an additional charge for each
day thereafter. Mona paid ₹ 27 for a book kept
for 7 days, while Tanvy paid ₹21 for the book
kept for 5 days. Find the fixed charge and the
charge for each day.
Sol: Let the fixed charge be ₹ x
and charges per day be ₹ y
Case1: x  4 y  27 …..(1)
Case2: x  2 y  21 …..(2)
on solving (1) and (2), we get x  15 and y  3
Fixed charge = ₹15 and charges per day = ₹3.

Phoenix Institute Of Mathematics and Science, SCF-33-34, Phase 10, Mohali (7696252855) Page 10