Age-related Problems

If x = present age of a person

x 3 = age of the person 3 years ago
x + 5 = age of the person 5 years from now or 5 years hence

Note:
The difference of the ages of two persons is constant at any time.

If
A = present age of Albert and
B = present age of Bryan

Sum of their ages 4 years ago = (A - 4) + (B - 4)

Sum of their ages 2 years hence = (A + 2) + (B + 2)
Difference of their ages = A - B

Example
Six years ago, Romel was five times as old as Lejon. In five years, Romel will be three times as old
as Lejon. What is the present age of Lejon?

Solution

Let
RR = present age of Romel
LL = present age of Lejon

Six years ago

R6=5(L6)R6=5(L6)
R6=5L30R6=5L30
R=5L24R=5L24

Five years from now (in five years)

R+5=3(L+5)R+5=3(L+5)
R+5=3L+15R+5=3L+15
R=3L+10R=3L+10

Substitute R = 5L - 24
5L24=3L+105L24=3L+10
2L=342L=34
L=17 yrs old
Example 01 | Age-related problem
Problem
Alfred is four times as old as his nephew Franco. 5 years ago, the sum of their ages is equal to the
present age of Alfred. How old is each?

Solution

Let
A = present age of Alfred
F = present age of Franco
A5 = age of Alfred 5 years ago
F5 = age of Franco 5 years ago

Sum of their ages 5 years ago

(A5)+(F5)=A
F=10 yrs old

Alfred is four times as old as Franco

A=4(10)
A=40 yrs old
Example 02 | Age-related problem
Problem
The sum of the parents ages is twice the sum of their childrens ages. Five years ago, the sum of the
parents ages is four times the sum of their childrens ages. In fifteen years, the sum of the parents
ages will be equal to the sum of their childrens ages. How many children were in the family?

Solution

Let
x = number of children in the family
y = sum of parents ages
z = sum of childrens ages

The sum of the parents ages is twice the sum of their childrens ages
y=2z equation (1)

Five years ago, the sum of the parents ages is four times the sum of their childrens ages
y5(2)=4(z5x)
y10=4z20x

Substitute y = 2z
2z10=4z20x
20x10=2z
z=10x5 equation (2)

In fifteen years, the sum of the parents ages will be equal to the sum of their childrens ages
y+15(2)=z+15x
y+30=z+15x

Substitute y = 2z
2z+30=z+15x
z+30=15x

Substitute z = 10x 5
(10x5)+30=15x
25=5x
x=5
Number-related Problems
Addition
Expressions that can be translated to addition, ( + ): sum, plus, added to, in addition, increased by,
and more than.

Verbal expression Algebraic equivalent

the sum of x and y x + y or y + x

x plus y x+y

x increased by y x+y

x added to y y+x

x in addition to y y+x

x more than y y+x

Subtraction
Expressions that can be translated to subtraction, ( - ): difference, minus, subtract, subtract from,
less, less than, decreased by, diminished by, lowered by, and exceed.

Verbal expression Algebraic equivalent

the difference between x and y x-y

x minus y x-y

x decreased by y x-y

x diminished by y x-y

x lowered by y x-y

x exceeds y x-y

x less y x-y

x less than y y-x

subtract x from y y-x

Multiplication
Expressions that can be translated to multiplication, ( ): product, times, and of. Expressions in
multiple of a number are also worth noting: double, twice, triple, thrice, quadruple, four times,
etcetera.

Verbal expression Algebraic equivalent

the product of x and y xy

x times y xy

x of y xy

double a number x 2x

twice a number y 2y

Division
Expressions that can be translated to division, ( ): quotient of, divided by, and over.

Verbal expression Algebraic equivalent

the quotient of x and y x/y

x divided by y x/y

x over y x/y

Equality
The words is and by denotes equality, ( = ).

Verbal expression Algebraic equivalent

the sum of x and y is z x+y=z

x exceeds y by z x-y=z
01 Problems involving sum of two numbers
Problem 1
The sum of two numbers is 120. If the greater number is four times the less, what are the
numbers?

Solution

Let x = the less number

4x = the greater number

The sum of two numbers is 120

x+4x=120
5x=120
x=24
4x=96
The numbers are 24 and 96

Problem 2
The greater of two numbers is twice the less, and the sum of the numbers is 96. What are the
numbers?

Solution

Let x = the less number

2x = the greater number

The sum of the numbers is 96

x+2x=96
3x=96
x=32
2x=64

The numbers are 32 and 64

02 Problems involving sum of two numbers
Problem 3
A man bought a cellphone and laptop for P50,000.00, paying three times as much for the laptop as
for the cellphone. How much did each cost?

Solution

Let x = amount paid for the cellphone

3x = amount paid for the laptop

x+3x=50000
4x=50000
x=12500
3x=37500

Answer:

P12,500.00 = cost of cellphone

P37,500.00 = cost of laptop

Problem 4
Two boys, counting their money, found that together they had P372, and that Rody had ve
times as much as Mar. How much had each?

Solution

Let x = money of Mar

5x = money of Rody

x+5x=372
6x=372
x=62
5x=310

Answer

P62 = money of Mar

P310 = money of Rody