Aptitude Age Problems

Aptitude Age Problems

3 Easy Types Of Age Problems In Which You Should Not Miss Even One Mark

Type 1: Ratio Based Age Problems

In this type, you will be given ratios between ages in question. You then have to then find the present ages of the people. In some cases, you may also be asked to find past or future ages.

This the easiest type of age problems. You will know why after reading the below example.

Example Question1: Ratio between ages of Rahul and Ravi is 3/5. After 10 years, the ratio will become 2/3. Find the present ages of Rahul and Ravi.

To solve this, let us assume Rahul’s age to be x and Ravi’s age to be y.

You can then write, x/y = 3/5

Or, 5x=3y

Or, x=3y/5 ….equation 1

In question, you can find that after 10 years the ratio becomes 2/3.

(After 10 years, Rahul’s age will become x+10

and Ravi’s age will become y+10)

Therefore You can write, (x+10)/(y+10)=2/3

Or 3x+30 = 2y+20

Or 2y-3x=10 … equation 2

But, you already know from equation 1 that x = 3y/5. If you substitute this equation 2, you will get

2y-3(3y/5)=10

Or 2y-9y/5=10

Or 10y-9y/5=10

y=50

If you substitute, y = 50 in equation 1, you will get x = 3 x 50/5 = 30

Therefore, your answer is Rahul’s age = 30 and Ravi’s age = 50

This type is very easy, isn’t it? If you have doubts, please use the comments section at the end of the article.

Type 2: Equation Solving Type Age Problems

This type of age problems is probably the most important. You will find the reason after the solution to the below example.

Example Question 2: In 5 years, Reshma will be 2 times older than Satya. Renuka, who is Reshma’s sister is 5 years younger than Reshma. Before 5 years, Renuka was 3 times older than Satya. Find present age of Satya.

To solve this question, let us assume Satya’s age to be x, Reshma’s age to be y and Renuka’s age to be z.

In 5 years, Reshma will be 2 times older than Satya. Therefore, you can write

y+5=2(x+5)

Or y-2x=5

Or y=2x+5…equation 1

You know that Renuka is 5 years younger than Reshma. Therefore, you can write

z=y-5 ….equation 2

Also, from question, you can find that before 5 years, Renuka was 3 times older than Satya. So,

z-5=3(x-5)

Or z-3x=20

Or z=3x-10 …equation 3

If you substitute the value of y from equation 1 in 2, you will get

z=2x

Now you have to substitute z=2x in equation 3. So you will get,

2x=3x-10

Or x=10

Therefore, you have found the answer that Satya’s age = 10

Why This type is very important? (Why You Should Not Lose Concentration)

A questioner can twist these types of questions to any extent. Therefore, they are very important. You have to clearly understand the question to form correct equations. You also should not make any careless mistakes at the start or middle. Or you have to rework the solution from the start.

Type 3: Finding Ratio Between Ages 

If in type 2 (previous type), you are asked to find ratio between ages instead of ages, you will get type 3.

In example question 2, let us assume you are asked to find the ratio between ages of Satya and Reshma. Here is your solution…

From the solution to example question 2, you know x = Satya’s age = 10

If you substitute, x = 10 in equation 1 of example 2, you will get

Reshma’s age = y = 25