## Math Word Problems: Solving Age Problems Part 3

This is the third part of the Solving Age Problems of the Math Word Problem Solving Series. In this post, we discuss more complicated age word problems.

Problem 7

Anna who is $6$ years old and his father Ben who is $27$ years old have the same birthday. In how many years will Ben be twice as old as Anna?

Solution

As years go by, the number of years added to Ben’s and Anna’s ages is the same. If we let the number of years that have gone by be $x$, then in $x$ years, their ages will be

Ben’s Age: $27 + x$

Anna’s Age: $6 + x$

Since in $x$ years, Ben will be as twice as old as Anna, if we multiply Anna’s age by $2$, their ages will be equal. So, we can now set up the equation » Read more

## Math Word Problems: Solving Age Problems Part 2

This is the second part of the 3-part installment posts on Solving Age Problems in the Math Word Problem Solving Series.

In this post, we continue with three more worked examples on age problems.  The first part of this series can be read here.

PROBLEM 4

Janice is four times as old as his son. In $5$ years, she will be as three times as old as his son. What is Janice’s present age?

Solution

Let $x$ be the present age of Janice’s son and 4x be her age. According to the problem, in five years, she will be three times as old as her son.

In five years, Janice age will be $4x + 5$ and her son’s age will be $x+5$. If she is three times as old as her son, if we multiply her son’s age by $3$, their ages will be equal. That is,

$3(x + 5) = 4x + 5$.

Simplifying, we have $3x + 15 = 4x + 5$ giving us $x = 10$. Therefore, the son is $10$ years old and Janice is $40$ years old.  » Read more

## The Mathematics Word Problem Solving Series

I have received quite a number of requests from students to write about the Mathematics Word Problem Solving.  Some students even reminded me that I have mentioned about it in this blog. Well, I think I have to fulfill my promise, so starting this week, I am going to give examples on how to solve the following types of problems.

I hope that this series will “lighten” this blog since the posts in the past months were getting harder and harder for high school students.

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