Question

Sum of the ages of a father and son is 40 years. If father's age is three times that of his son, then find their respective ages

Answer 1

let fathers age be x
let his son's age be y
x+y=40.
now x=3y
therefore
placing the value of x=3y in x+y=40
3y+y=40
4y=40
y=10
now placing value y=10 in x=3y
x=3(10)
x=30
therefore father's age is 30 and his son's age is 10

Answer 2

Given: Sum of the ages of a father and son is 40 years. Father's age is three times than his son's age.

To find: The respective ages of father and son

Solution: Let the son's age be a.

Since the father's age is three times than son's age, therefore father's age

= 3 × a

= 3a

The sum of ages is given as 40 years. Therefore,

Son's age + Father's age = 40

=> a + 3a = 40

=> 4a = 40

=> a = 40/4

=> a = 10

Therefore, son's age = 10 years

Father's age

= 3a

= 3 × 10

= 30 years

Therefore, the son's age is 10 years and his father's age is 30 years.