Question

Alfonso is 8 years older than Ashley. Five years ago Alfonso was three times as old as Ashley. How old is Ashley now

9
17
8

Answer 1

Ashley is now nine years old

Answer 2

Ashley is 9 years old now

Explanation:

Given :

Alfonso is 8 years older than Ashley.

Five years ago Alfonso was three times as old as Ashley.

To Find : Ashley's age

Solution :

Let Ashley's age be x years

Since we are given that Alfonso is 8 years older than Ashley.

So, Alfonso's age = (x+8) years.

Five years ago,

Ashley's age was (x-5) years.

And Alfonso was three times as old as Ashley.

⇒(x+8)-5= 3(x-5)

⇒x+3 = 3 x -15

⇒18 = 2 x

⇒x = 18/2

⇒x = 9

Thus , Ashley's age 'x' is 9 years

Alfonso's age = (x+8) = (9+8) = 17 years.

Hence, Ashley is 9 years old now .

Option 1 is correct.