Age Problems:

Preparing to Solve Age Problems:

We will use the following to represent past and future age:

-- To represent a past age, subtact from the present age.

Years ago...
-- To represent a future age, add to the present age.

In how many years...

To Solve Age Problems, we will use the following table:

Future age
Present age or
in years Past age

Person {
Example 1

Pete is 3 times as old as Tyler. Eighteen years from now, Pete will be twice as old as
Tyler will be then. Find the present age of both Pete and Tyler.

Facts: -- Pete is 3 times as old as tyler

-- 18 years from now

-- Pete will be twice as old as Tyler will be then.

Future age (+)
or
Present age Past age (-)
in years

Pete 3x
Since it was 18 years from
3x + 18
now.. in the future

x
Tyler x + 18
 Let's look at our last fact..

-- Pete will be twice as old as Tyler will be then.

P = 2(T)

3x + 18 = 2(x + 18)

3x + 18 = 2x + 36
x + 18 = 36
x = 18
Present age Future age (+)
in years or
Past age (-)

Pete 3x 3x + 18
54

x x + 18
Tyler
18
Check: -- Pete is 3 times as old as Tyler
54 = 3(18)

-- 18 years from now

18 + 18 = 36

54 + 18 = 72

-- Pete will be twice as old as Tyler will be then

72 = 2(36)

Ans: Tyler's age is 18 and Pete is 54 years old.

Example 2
Mr. Burton is now 40 years old and Mrs. Burton is 20 years old. How many
years ago was Mr. Burton three times as old as Mrs. Burton was then?
Future age (+)
Present age
or
in years
Past age (-) Since we want to
know how many
Mr. Burton 40 40 - x years ago... in the
30 past

20
Mrs. Burton 20 - x
10

was Mr. = 3 time Mrs. 30 = 3(10)

Check:
40 - x = 3(20 - x)
40 - x = 60 - 3x Ans: 10 years ago, Mr Burton was 3
2x = 20 times as old as Mrs. Burton.
x = 10
Pg. 304

1. John is now 3 times as old as his brother Sam. In 5 years, John will be twice as old as Sam will be
then. Find their present ages.
Future age (+)
Present age or
in years Past age (-)

3x + 5 = 2(x + 5)
J 3x 3x + 5
3x + 5 = 2x + 10
15
x=5

x x+5
S

Check: 15 = 3(5)

Ans: John is 15 and Sam is 5.

2. A man is now 6 times as old as his son. In 6 years, the father will be 3 times as old
as the son will be then. Find their present ages.
Future age (+)
Present age or
in years Past age (-)

6x + 6 = 3(x + 6)
6x
6x + 6
M
24
30
6x + 6 = 3x + 18

S x 3x = 12
x+6

4 x=4
10

Check: 30 = 3(10)

Answer: The father is now 24 and the son is 4.

3. Justin is now 3 time as old as Arthur. In 10 years, Justin will be twice as old as Arthur will
be then. Find their present ages.
Future age (+)
Present age or
in years Past age (-)

J 3x + 10 = 2(x + 10)
3x 3x + 10

30 40
3x +10 = 2x + 20

A x x = 10
x + 10

10 20

Check: 40 = 2(20)

Answer: Justin is 30 and Arthur is 10.

5. A father is now 24 years older than his son. In 8 years, the father will be twice as old as
his son will be then. Find their present ages.
Future age (+)
Present age or
in years Past age (-)

x + 32 = 2(x + 8)
F
x + 24 x + 32

32 x + 32 = 2x +16
48

16 = x
x x+8
S

16 24

Check: 48 = 2(24)

Answer: The father is 32 and the son is 16.

7. Marion is twice as old as Judy. Six years ago, Marion was three times as old as Judy
was then. Find the age of each girl now.
Future age (+)
Present age or
in years Past age (-)

M 2x - 6 = 3(x - 6)
2x
2x-6
24 18
2x - 6 = 3x - 18

J x-6 12 = x

12 6

Check: 18 = 3(6)

Ans: Marion is 24 and Judy is 12.