MODULE 17 – AGES

1. Tony is 15 years older than John. If 6 years ago, Tony was 3 times as old as John, then find Tony's
present age.
(a) 28.5 years (b) 27.5 years (c) 25 years (d) 24.9 years

Solution:
1) Let age of John be y
2) Tony is 15 years elder than John = (y + 15). So Tony’s age 6 years ago = (y + 15 – 6)
3) John’s age before 6 years = (y – 6)
6 years ago, Tony is 3 times as old as John
(y + 15 – 6) = 3 (y – 6)
(y + 9) = (3y – 18)
2y = 27
y = 13.5
John’s age = 13.5 years
Tony’s age = (y + 15) = (13.5 + 15) = 28.5years

2. Sara is 80 years old and Nazma is 70 years old. How long ago was the ratio of their ages 3:2?
(a) 20 years (b) 30 years (c) 40 years (d) 50 years
Solution:
Here, we have to calculate: How many years ago the ratio of their ages was 3:2. Let us assume x years ago
At present: Sara is 80 years and Nazma is 70 years
x years ago: Sara’s age = (80 – x) and Nazma's age = (70 – x)
Given, the ratio of their ages was 3:2
(80-x) / (70-x) = 3/2
Solving, we get: x = 50
Therefore, the answer is 50 years.

3. One year ago, the ratio of Loraine’s and Elizabeth's age was 5 : 6 respectively. After 4 years, this ratio
becomes 6 : 7. How old is Elizabeth?
(a) 25 years (b) 26 years (c) 31 years (d) 35 years

Solution:
Hint: If ages in the numerical are mentioned in ratio A : B, then A : B will be Ax and Bx.
We are given that age ratio of Loraine : Elizabeth = 5 : 6
1) Loraine’s age = 5x and Elizabeth’s age = 6x

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2) One year ago, their age was 5x and 6x. Hence at present, Loraine’s age = 5x +1 and Elizabeth’s age = 6x
+1
3) After 4 years,
Loraine’s age = (5x +1) + 4 = (5x + 5)
Elizabeth’s age = (6x +1) + 4 = (6x + 5)
4) After 4 years, this ratio becomes 6 : 7. Therefore,
Loraine's Age6 = Elizabeth's Age7
(5x + 5) / (6x + 5) = 6 / 7
7 (5x + 5) = 6 (6x + 5)
X=5
Elizabeth’s present age = (6x + 1) = (6 x 5 + 1) = 31 years
Loraine’s present age = (5x + 1) = (5 x 5 + 1) = 26 years

4. Age of the mother 20 years ago was 3 times the age of her son. After 20 years, the mother's age will be
twice that of the son. Find the ratio of their present ages.
(a) 2 : 1 (b) 9 : 5 (c) 7 : 4 (d) 7 : 3

Solution:
We are given that, age of mother 20 years ago was 3 times the age of her son
So, let age of son be x and as mother’s age is 3 times the age of her son, let it be 3x, 20 years ago.
At present: Mother’s age will be (3x + 20) and son’s age will be (x + 20)
After 20 years: Mother’s age will be (3x + 20) +20 and son’s age will be (x + 20) + 20
Mother’s age is twice that of son
(3x + 20) +20 = 2 [(x + 20) + 20]
(3x + 40) = 2[x + 40]
Solving the equation, we get x = 40
We are asked to find the present ratio.
(3x + 20) : (x + 20) = 140 : 60 = 7 : 3

5. In a family, a couple has a son and a daughter. The age of the father is five times that of his son and the
age of the daughter is half of her mother. The husband is ten years older to his wife and his son is ten years
younger than the daughter. What is the age of the father?
(a) 50 years (b) 45 years (c) 40 years (d) 35 years

Solution:
The ratio of age of father and son = 5 : 1 (5x, x)
The age of daughter = (1/2)* mother’s age
F = M + 10
5x = M + 10
M = 5x – 10
D = (5x – 10)/2
S = D – 10
X = [(5x – 10)/2] – 10
X = [5x – 10 – 20]/2
2x = 5x -30
3x = 30
X = 10
The age of father = 5x = 50 years

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6. 5 years ago, the sister’s age was 5 times the age of her brother and the sum of present ages of sister and
brother is 34 years. What will be the age of her brother after 6 years?
(a) 15 years (b) 13.5 years (c) 12 years (d) 20 years

Solution:
Let present age of brother be x and sister’s age be 34 – x.

Past age (5 years ago) Present age Future age ( After 6 years)
Brother (x – 5) x (x + 6) = ?
Sister (34 – x) - 5 (34 – x)

We are given, 5 years ago sister’s age was 5 times the age of her brother.
Therefore,
(34 – x) – 5 = 5 (x – 5)
34 – x – 5 = 5x – 25
5x + x = 34 – 5 +25
6x = 54
x=9
Future age (after 6 yrs) = (x + 6) = (9 + 6) = 15 years

7. The average age of a couple was 24 years. After their 1st and 2nd children (twins) were born, the
average age of the family became 13.5 years. The average age of the family just after the 3rd child was
born was 13.2 years. The average age of the family after the 4th child was born was 16 years. The current
average age of the family is 19 years. What is the current age of the twin children?
(a) 14 years (b) 15 years (c) 11 years (d) 12 years

Solution:
Based on the sum of ages of the couple and the children, we first need to find the time gap between the
birth of each child!
Sum of the ages of the couple = 24 * 2 = 48
After the 1st and 2nd children, sum = 13.5 * 4 = 54
Difference in sum = 54 – 48 = 6 years
Or after 6/2 = 3 years, the twin were born to the couple (Ages of children at the time of birth is 0)
After 3rd child, sum = 13.2 * 5 = 66 yrs
Difference = 66 – 54 = 12
Or after 12/4 = 3 yrs, 3rd child was born (Couple + 2 children were already present. So 4)
After 4th child, sum = 16 * 6 = 96 yrs
Difference = 96 – 66 = 30
Or after 30/5 = 6 yrs, 4th child was born
Current sum = 19 * 6 = 114 yrs
Difference 114 – 96 = 18 yrs
Or after 18/6 = 3 yrs
The gap between the children are as follows: 3 yrs, 6 yrs and 3 yrs
Age of eldest ones = 3 + 6 + 3 = 12

Hence, the answer is "12 years".

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8. In an apartment complex, the number of people aged 51 years and above is 30 and there are at most 39
people whose ages are below 51 years. The average age of all the people in the apartment complex is 38
years. What is the largest possible average age, in years, of the people whose ages are below 51 years?
(a) 27 (b) 28 (c) 26 (d) 25

Solution:
Let the average age of people aged 51 years and above be x years. Let the average age of people aged
below 51 years be y years.

Let the number of people aged below 51 years be N.

Given, the average age of all the people in the apartment complex is 38 years.

Therefore,
x*30+y*N30+N = 38 ............. (1)
We want to maximize y, which occurs when x is minimum i.e. for x = 51

Substituting the value of x in (1) we get

390 = N * (38 - y)

Again, when y is maximum, N is also maximum i.e. 39

Therefore, maximum value of y = 28.

9. Ten years ago, the ages of the members of a joint family of eight people added up to 231 years. Three
years later, one member died at the age of 60 years and a child was born during the same year. After
another three years, one more member died, again at 60, and a child was born during the same year. The
current average age of this eight – member joint family is nearest to
(a) 23 years (b) 22 years (c) 21 years (d) 24 years

Solution:

Sum of the ages of 8 members, 10 years ago = 231 years

Sum of the ages of all members, 7 years ago
= (231 + 8 × 3 - 60) years
= 195 years

Sum of the ages of all members, 4 years ago

= (195 + 8 × 3 - 60) years
= 159 years

Sum of the present ages of all 8 members

= (159 + 8 × 4) years
= 191 years

∴ Current average age = 191/8 years

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= 23.8 years ≈ 24 years

10. One year ago, the ratio of Hina and Priya ages was 2: 3 respectively. After five years from now, this
ratio becomes 4: 5. How old is Priya now?
(a) 5 years (b) 25 years (c) 10 years (d) 15 years

Solution
We are given that age ratio of Hina: Priya = 2: 3
Hina’s age = 2x and Priya’s age = 3x
One year ago, their ages were 2x and 3x.
Hence at present, Hina's age = 2x +1 and Priya's age = 3x +1
After 5 years, Hina’s age = (2x +1) + 5 = (2x + 6)
Priya's age = (3x +1) + 5 = (3x + 6)
After 5 years, this ratio becomes 4: 5. Therefore,
(2x+6) / (3x+6) = 4/5
10x + 30 = 12x + 24 ⇒ x = 3
Priya's present age = (3x + 1) = (3x 3 + 1) = 10 years
Hina's present age = (2x + 1) = (2x 3 + 1) = 7 years

11. The ratio of Sara’s age 4 years ago and Veena’s age after 4 years is 1: 1. Presently, the ratio of their
ages is 5: 3. Find the ratio between Sara’s age 4 years hence and Veena’s age 4 years ago.
(a) 1 : 3 (b) 3 : 1 (c) 4 : 3 (d) 3 : 4

Solution
Currently, the ratio of their ages is 5: 3. Suppose, their ages are: 5x and 3x.
Sara’s age 4 years ago = 5x – 4
Veena’s age after 4 years = 3x + 4
Ratio of Sara’s age 4 years ago and Veena's age after 4 years is 1 : 1
Therefore,
(5x - 4) / (3x + 4) = 1/1
Solving, we get x = 4
We are required to find the ratio between Sara’s age 4 years hence and Veena’s age 4 years ago.
Sara's age: (5x + 4)
Veena's age: (3x – 4)
Putting the value of x, we get:
(5x + 4) / (3x - 4) = 3/1 = 3:1

12. "I am ten times as old as you were, when I was as old as you are", said a man to his son. Find out their
present ages, if the sum of their ages is 124 years ?
(a) Father = 50; Son =14 (b) Father = 40; Son =24
(c) Father = 60; Son =4 (d) Father = 80; Son = 44

Solution
Let the present age of the man be 'P' and son be 'Q',
Given, P + Q = 124 or Q = (124 - P)
Now the man says "I am ten times as old as you were, when I was as old as you are",
So, P = 10[Q - (P - Q)]
We get 11P = 20Q,

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Substitute value for Q,
11P = 20(124 - P),
Therefore, P = 80, Q = 44.

13. What is the age of Teja?

A: Four years ago, Raju was as old as Teja is at present.
B: Sita’s present age is two times of Raju’s present age.
C: The average age of Teja and Sita is 19 years.

(a) Any two statements are sufficient to give answer

(b) Only C is sufficient
(c) All of three statements are necessary to give answer
(d) Even using all the three statements answer cannot be found

Solution
From the given statements A, B & C

Let the present age of Teja = P

Raju present age = P + 4

Sita's present age = 2(P + 4)

Average of ages of Sita & Teja = 19

=> (2P + 8 + P)/2 = 19

= 3P + 8 = 38

=> P = 30/3 = 10

Hence, the present age of Teja = P = 10 yrs.

Therefore, by using all the three statements A, B & C we can find the age of Teja.

14. When I was married 10 years ago my wife was the 6th member of the family. Today my father died and
a baby was born to me. The average age of my family during my marriage was the same as it is today.
What was the age of Father when he died?
(a) 50 yrs (b) 60 yrs (c) 70 yrs (d) 65 yrs

Solution
Let the Father be x years when he died
Average Age 10 years ago be A
Total Age 10 years ago = 6*A
Total Age after 10 years (Just before father's Death) = 6A + 6*10 = 6A + 60
Father Died and Baby was born => the Total number of people in the family is Same (6)
Baby born today so age of baby = 0
(6A +60 - x)/6 = 6A/6
Denominators get cancelled and 6A on both sides get cancelled leaving behind 60 - x = 0

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=> x = 60
Therefore, we can conclude that the father was 60 years old when he died.
15. A woman says, "If you reverse my own age, the figures represent my husband's age. He is, of course,
senior to me and the difference between our ages is one-eleventh of their sum." The woman's husband's age
is?
(a) 45 (b) 24 (c) 42 (d) 54

Solution:
By trial and error method from the given options,
as 54 - 45 = (1/11) x (45+54) = 99/11 = 9
Hence this satisfies the given conditions.
Then the woman's husband's age is 54.

HOMEWORK:
1. The sum of the ages of 5 children born at the intervals of 3 years each is 100 years. What is the age of
the youngest child?
(a) 4 years (b) 8 years (c) 10 years (d) 12 years

Solution:
Let the ages of children be x, (x + 3), (x + 6), (x + 9) and (x + 12) years.
Then, x + (x + 3) + (x + 6) + (x + 9) + (x + 12) = 100
⇒ 5x = 70
⇒ x = 14.
∴ Age of the youngest child = x = 14 years.

2. The ages of three friends are in the ratio 11 : 5 : 13. What is the age of the youngest friend if the sum of
their ages is 116 years?
(a) 21 years (b) 20 years (c) 19 years (d) 22 years

Solution:
Let the ages of three friends be 11x, 5x and 13x. The youngest of these is 5x. We have been given their
sum. So (11 + 5 + 13)x = 116. Solving, we get x=4. The youngest is 5 x 4 = 20 years
3. Amit is 60 years old and Sharvesh is 80 years old. How many years ago was the ratio of their ages 4 : 6?
(a) 10 years (b) 15 years (c) 20 years (d) 25 years

Solution:
Here, we have to calculate: How many years ago the ratio of their ages was 4 : 6
Let us assume x years ago
At present: Amit is 60 years and Sharvesh is 80 years
x years ago: Amit’s age = (60 – x) and Sharvesh’s age = (80 – x)
Ratio of their ages x years ago was 4 : 6
((60-x))/((80-x) ) = 4/6
6(60 – x) = 4(80 – x)
360 – 6x = 320 – 4x
x = 20
Therefore, 20 years ago, the ratio of their ages was 4 : 6
4. A is as much younger than B as he is older than C. If the sum of the ages of B and C is 50 years, what is
definitely the difference between B and A’s age?
(a) 1 year (b) 2 years (c) 25 years (d) Data inadequate

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Solution:
1. The difference of age b/w B and A = The difference of age b/w A and C.
2. Sum of age of B and C is 50 i.e. (B + C) = 50.
Question: B - A = ?.
Explanation:
B-A=A-C
(B + C) = 2A
Now given that, (B + C) = 50
So, 50 = 2A and therefore A = 25.
Question is (B - A) = ?
Here we know the value (age) of A (25), but we don't know the age of B.
Therefore, (B-A) cannot be determined.

5. On a ruler's tombstone, it is said that one sixth of his life was spent in childhood and one twelfth as a
teenager. One seventh of his life passed between the time he became an adult and the time he married; five
years later, his son was born. Alas, the son died four years before he did. He lived to be twice as old as his
son did. How old did the ruler live to be ?
(a) 64 (b) 72 (c) 82 (d) 84

Solution:
Let the age of ruler is x so that of son = x/2 (given) Now according to the given condition (x/6) + (x/12) +
(x/7) + 5 + (x/2) + 4 = x => x = 84