Question

5 years hence, the age of a man shall be 3 times the age of his son while 5 years earlier the age of the man was 7 times the age of his son. The present age of the man is
(a) 45 years
(b) 50 years
(c) 47 years
(d) 40 years

Answer 1

The correct option is (d).
Let the man's present age be x years.
Let his son's present age be y years.
Five years later:
(x + 5) = 3(y + 5)
⇒ x + 5 = 3y + 15
⇒ x − 3y = 10 ....(i)
Five years ago:
(x − 5) = 7(y − 5)
⇒ x − 5 = 7y − 35
⇒ x − 7y = −30 ....(ii)
On subtracting (i) from (ii), we get:
−4y = −40 ⇒ y = 10
On substituting y = 10 in (i), we get:
x − 3 × 10 = 10 ⇒ x − 30 = 10 ⇒ x = (10 + 30) = 40 years
Hence, the man's present age is 40 years.