Chapter - 6

WORD PROBLEMS

6.1 SOLVED PROBLEMS

Problem 1
The age of a father is 4 times that of his son. Five years back, he was 7
times as old as his son. What is the present age of the father?
(a) 28 years (b) 35 years
(c) 40 years (d) 45 years
Solution
Let us assume that the age of the father at present is F and that the age
of the son at present is S
Hence, at present F = 4S —— (1)
Five years back (F - 5) = 7 (S - 5) ——— (2)
(2) Equation can be written as
F – 5 = 7S – 35 ——— (3)
Substitute (1) in (3)
7S – 4S = 35 – 5
3S = 30
S = 10 ——— (4)
Substitute the value of S in the equation (1),
then we get F = 4 × 10 = 40 years
Shortcut
The present, age of the father is a multiple of 4. Five years back, it
was a multiple of 7. The options (b) and (d) are not a multiple of 4.
Therefore, those two options can be eliminated. The option (a) is
multiple of 4 at present, but 5 years ago the age was not a multiple of
7. Therefore, the correct answer is option (c)

Problem 2
The age ratio between Stephen and his father’s age is 1 : 4. Five years
ago, his father was 7 times older than he, what is the age of the father
now?
(a) 10 years (b) 30 years
(c) 40 years (d) 28 years

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Solution
Let us assume that the present age of Stephen is S and the age of his
father is F.
At present, S : F = 1 : 4
herefore, S = χ and F = 4χ
Five years ago (4χ- 5) = 7 × (χ - 5)
4χ – 5 = 7χ – 35
3χ = 30
χ = 10.
Therefore, the age of his father is F = 4 × 10 = 40 years
Shortcut
The present, age of father is a multiple of 4. Therefore, options (a)
and (b) can be eliminated. The options (c) and (d) are multiples of 4.
Option (c) is the correct answer as it satisfies the condition (five years
back, it was a multiple of 7)

Problem 3
The present ages of A and B are in the ratio 5 : 6 respectively. Seven
years hence, the ratio will become 6 : 7. What is the present age of A
in years?
(a) 35 (b) 42 (c) 45 (d) 49
Solution
Present ages of A and B are 5 and 6 respectively. After 7 years, the age
of A will be 5χ + 7 and that of B will be 6χ + 7.
7 years hence 5x + 7 6
=
6x + 7 7
χ = 7 therefore, the present age of A = 5 × 7 = 35 years
Shortcut
The present age of A is a multiple of 5. After 7 years, the age of A will
be a multiple of 6. Option (a) alone satisfies the condition.

Problem 4
6
Christy got married 8 years ago. Her present age is times her age
5
at the time of her marriage. Christy’s sister was 10 years younger than
her at the time of his marriage. The present age of Christy’s sister is
(a) 32 years (b) 36 years
c) 38 years (d) 40 years
Solution
Let us assume that the age of Christy was x when she got married.
Therefore, the present age of Christy is χ + 8
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χ+8= χ and χ = 40 (at the time of marriage)
5
Now the age of Christy is 48. The age of Christy’s sister is 38 years.

Problem 5
Ten years ago A was half of B in age; if the ratio of their present ages
is 3 : 4, what is the sum of their present ages?
(a) 8 years (b) 20 years
(c) 35 years (d) 45 years
Solution
Let us assume that the present ages of A and B to be ‘a’ and ‘b’
respectively.
10 years ago their ages were (a – 10) and (b – 10)
1
(a – 10) = (b – 10) [10 years back, A was half of B in age]
2
2a – 20 = b – 10
2a – b = 10 —— (1)
At present, a = 3χ, b = 4χ. Substitute a and b values in equation (1)
6χ – 4χ = 10 and χ = 5
Age of A = 3χ = 3 × 5 = 15 and B = 4χ = 4 × 5 = 20
Therefore, the sum of their ages is 35 years
Shortcut
The present ages of A and B are multiples of 3 and 4 respectively.
So the sum of their ages should be a multiple of 7. Option (c) is the
multiple of 7, therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Problem 6
The age of a man is 4 times that of his son. Five years ago, the man
was 9 times as old as his son was at that time. What is the present age
of the man?
(a) 28 years (b) 32 years
(c) 40 years (d) 44 years
Solution
Let us assume that the present age of the man and son are F and S
respectively. At present, F = 4S. Five years ago (F - 5) = 9(S - 5). If we
solve these two equations, we get the answer as 32 years.
Shortcut
The present age of the father is a multiple of 4. All the given answer
choices are multiples of 4. If we apply next condition, option (b) will
be the only the answer choice as it is a multiple of 9 five years back.

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Problem 7
The age of Alanso will be Y in the year Y². I am obviously talking
about the 21st Century. In which year was Alanso born?
(a) 1991 (b) 1980
(c) 2025 (d) None of these
Solution
Note: 2025 is the only perfect square year in 20th century (i.e. from 2001
to 2100) Alanso’s age will be 45 in year 2025. Alanso was born 45 years
back. Therefore, he was born in 1980.

Problem 8
When I add 4 times my age 4 years from now to 5 times my age 5 years
from now, I get 10 times my current age. How old will I be 6 years
from now?   
(a) 25 years (b) 41 years (c) 44 years (d) 47 years
Solution
Let the present age be
4(χ + 4) + 5(χ+ 5) = 10 and χ = 41
After 6 years, the age will be 47 years.

Problem 9
The age of a father ten years ago was thrice the age of his son. Ten
years hence the father’s age will be twice that of his son. The ratio of
the their present ages is
(a) 5 : 2 (b) 7 : 3 (c) 9 : 2 (d) 13 : 4
Solution
Let us assume that the present the age of the father is F and that of the
son is S. 10 years ago the father’s age was (F - 10) and the son’s age
was (S - 10)
(F - 10) = 3(S - 10) —— (1)
10 years hence, the father’s age will be (F + 10) and the son’s age will
be (S + 10)
(F + 10) = 2(S + 10) —— (2)
By solving these two equations, one will get the answer, which is,
option (b) 7 : 3

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Problem 10
I am twice as old as you were when I was as old as you are. The sum
of our ages is 35. Find my present age.
(a) 20 (b) 18 (c) 17 (d) 15
Solution
Let us assume age of x is now 25 and age of y is 20. The age difference
between x and y now is 5. The age difference will be the same even
after ‘n’ years. This concept can be used here to solve this problem.

I You Tense
Y χ Past
2 χ y Present

Here (y - χ) = (2χ - y) [The age difference will be the same] ——— (1)
2χ+ y = 35 [The sum of our ages is 35] ———— (2)
After solving these two equations, we will get the answer 2χ = 20

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