Help Please with solving Age related question

[successforu]

Hi,

Please can someone explain the right and easy technique to solve this question as my daughter is getting confused with my explanation:

In 3 years time Peter will be twice the age May is now. In 3 years May will be 2 years older than Rani will be. Rani is now 6. How old is Peter?

Also, could you please suggest where can I find these type of questions for my daughter to practice?

Thanks a lot

[Guest55]

Please can someone explain the right and easy technique to solve this question as my daughter is getting confused with my explanation:

In 3 years time Peter will be twice the age May is now. In 3 years May will be 2 years older than Rani will be. Rani is now 6. How old is Peter?

I assume it means how old is Peter now?

NOW: Rani is 6
In 3 years she will be 6 + 3 = 9 so May will be 11 [9 + 2]

How old is May now? She is 8 [11 - 3]
So in three years Peter will be 8 x 2 = 16, so now he is ...

These are hard as you need to think about now and three years time - note I did not use any algebra.

[ronkevso]

Very interesting question type. I like the way you solved this question Guest55.

Could anyone explain how you would solve this question with algebra? It would be much appreciated.

[Guest55]

Algebra really complicates a problem like this and it is not needed here.

[successforu]

Guest 55 - Thank you so much for explaining it so nicely.

I agree with Ronkevso - will be good if someone can also explain this question with algebra.

Many thanks Guest 55 and Ronkevso.

[Guest55]

In 3 years time Peter will be twice the age May is now. In 3 years May will be 2 years older than Rani will be. Rani is now 6. How old is Peter?

Let Peter's age now be p, May's age be m and Rani, r

3 years time: p+3 = 2m [Peter twice May now]
m + 3 = r + 3 + 2 [they are both 3 years older and to make ages eqaul we need to add 2 to Rani]

we know r = 6 so m + 3 = 6 + 5, m = 8

back in first equation p + 3 = 2 x 8 = 16 so p = 13

It is MUCH harder in algebra - having taught maths for many years, I think this is a question not well suited to an algebraic approach

[ronkevso]

Thanks very much Guest 55. Do you know of any books/ resources that deal with these type of questions?

[Guest55]

No, they tend to be odd examples in an exercise. You could try google - I found some that way but do avoid American websites. Some I found always use x and I don't recommend that as it further complicates the problems.

I think you are better sticking to a logical approach rather than algebra.