Question

9. (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) Bako is twice as old as he was five years ago. His mother was then six times as old as he was. She is now 35 years old. How old is Bako? 10 How old was his mother when Bako was five? How old will Bako be when his mother is 50? How old was Bako's mother when he was born? What is the difference between Bako's age and his mother's?​

Answer 1

(a) Bako is 10 years old

(b) His mother was 30 years old when Bako was 5

(c) Bako will be 25 years old when his mother is 50

(d) Bako's mother was 25 years old when he was born

(e) The difference between Bako's age & his mother's is 25 years

Explanation:

Let Bako's age five years ago be x years

Presently, Bako is 2x years old (according to the 1st statement)

Normal, Bako's present age should have been (x + 5) years; since he was x years old 5 years ago.

This simply means that Bako's present age is BOTH 2x years & (x + 5) years.

We have to equate them since they mean the same thing (Bako's present age)

x + 5 = 2x

2x - x = 5

Therefore x = 5 years

Remember that x signified Bako's age five years ago... This simply means that Bako's age five years ago was 5 years.

This simply means that Bako's age now is 10 years old.

His mother was then six times 5 years = 30 years old (from the 2nd statement).

If Bako was 5 years old five years ago and his mother was 30 years old... It simply means that Bako was born ten years ago when his mother was 25 years old.

This simply means that Bako's mother is older than him with 25 years.

Therefore, Bako will be 25 years old when his mother is 50 years old