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You are here: Home » GMAT Test Prep Questions » Algebra : Word Problems » Question 2

The given question is a word problem from Algebra and requires framing a couple of linear equations and solving the equations.

Question 2

Three years back, a father was 24 years older than his son. At present the father is 5 times as old as the son. How old will the son be three years from now?

1. 12 years
2. 6 years
3. 3 years
4. 9 years
5. 27 years

The correct choice is (D) and the correct answer is 9 years.

Let the age of the son 3 years back be x years
Therefore, the age of the father 3 years back was x + 24

At present the age of the son is x + 3 and the father is 5 times as old as the son.
i.e., x + 24 + 3 = 5(x + 3)
i.e., x + 27 = 5x + 15
or 4x = 12 or x = 3.

Therefore, the son was 3 years old 3 years back and he will be 9 years old three years from now.