Question

A father and his son decides to sum their ages. The sum is equal to sixty years. Six years ago the age of the father was five times the age of the son. Six years from now the son’s age will be?

Answer 1

20

Explanation:

Set up a system of equations.

Let x be the age of the son now. Let y be the age of the father now.

x + y = 60

y - 6 = 5(x - 6) --> y - 6 = 5x - 30 --> y = 5x -24

Substitute y from the second equation for y in the first equation to solve for x.

x + (5x - 24) = 60

6x = 84

x = 14; y = 46

Add 6 to x to get the son's age six years from now.

14 + 6 = 20