Question

Solve the problem by making up an equation. A child is 12 years old, and his father is 32 years older. In how many years will the age of the father be 3 times the age of the child?

Answer 1

4 years

Explanation:

Answer 2

ANSWER
In 4 years time.

EXPLANATION

The present age of the child is 12 years.


The present age of the father is (12+32)=44 years.


In x years time,

The child's age will be

`(12 + x) \: years`
The father's age will be,


`(44 + x) \: years`


If in x years time, the father's age is three times the son's age, then we can write the following equation and solve for x.


`(44 + x) = 3(12 + x)`
Expand the bracket,


`44 + x = 36 + 3x`

Group similar terms,


`44 - 36 = 3x - x`


This implies that,



`8 = 2x`

Dividing through by 2 gives,



`x = 4`