Age Word Problems

Students will solve age word

problems with a Guess & Check
Table and Algebra
What’s Involved in an Age
Problem
AGES

PAST PRESENT FUTURE

 Solving Age Problems
GUESS & CHECK CHART
Considerations: Past, Present, or Future
Make a Guess and Check Chart
Find the relationship between the ages.
Start Guessing until the Relationship Works!
Answer question
 Bill is three times as old as Pietro. Eighteen years
from now, Bill will be twice as old as Pietro will be
then. Find present age of Bill and Pietro
Now Future (+18) Relationship: Future
B P BF PF BF = 2(PF)

What column should be your guess column?

Pietro: Because Bill is three times as old as
Pietro. (If I know Pietro, I can find Bill)
 Start Guessing
Now Future (+18) Relationship: Future
B P BF PF BF = 2(PF)
(3P)
30 10 48 28 48=2(28)
48=56
36 12 54 30 54=2(30)
54=60
54 18 72 36 72=2(36)
72=72

Guess Column
 Bill is three times as old as Pietro. Eighteen years
from now, Bill will be twice as old as Pietro will be
then. Find present age of Bill and Pietro

Now Future (+18) Relationship: Future

B P BF PF BF = 2(PF)
(3P)
54 18 72 36 72=2(36)
72=72

Answer the question: We need their NOW ages.

Bill is 54 and Pietro is 18.
 Solving Algebraically
Plug x into Guess Column and fill in row of
Guess and Check Chart
Define variables
Use equation from chart and solve it
Answer question
 Bill is three times as old as Pietro. Eighteen years
from now, Bill will be twice as old as Pietro will be
then. Find present age of Bill and Pietro
Now Future (+18) Relationship:
Future
B P BF PF BF = 2(PF)
(3P)
54 18 72 36 72=2(36)
72=72
3X X 3X+18 X+18 3x+18=2(x+18)

X goes in guess column: Fill in rest of row

 Algebra

Now Future (+18) Relationship:

Future
B P BF PF BF = 2(PF)
(3P)
3X X 3X+18 X+18 3x+18=2(x+18)
Let x= Pietro Now 3x + 18 = 2(x + 18)
Pietro is 18
Let 3x = Bill now 3x + 18 = 2x + 36 and Bill is 54.
Let x + 18= Pietro -2x -2x
Future
x + 18 = 36
Let 3x + 18 = Bill
Future x = 18
A father is 3 times as old as his son. Fifteen
years ago, the father was 9 times as old as his
son. Find their present ages.

Make a Guess & Check Chart

Now Past (- 15) Equation: Past

F(3S) S FP SP FP = 9 (SP)

Which is the Guess Column? Son Now

Now Past (- 15) Equation: Past

F(3S) S FP SP FP = 9 (SP)

48 16 33 1 33 = 9(1)
60 20 45 5 45 = 9(5)
75 25 60 10 60=9(10)

The father is 60 and the son is 20.

Remember: You need 3 guesses even if you guess

right early!!!!!
 Now Past (- 15) Equation: Past
F(3S) S FP SP FP = 9 (SP)
3x x 3x-15 X-15 3x-15=9(x-15)
Let x = Son Now 3x - 15 = 9(x - 15)
Let 3x = Father Now 3x - 15 = 9x - 135
Let x - 15 = Son Past -3x -3x
Let 3x-15 = Father -15 = 6x - 135
Past
+135 +135
Son is 20 and Father is 120 = 6x x = 20 3x = 60
60
 Wrapping Up Age Problems
What are three Past, Present (NOW),
possible time periods Future
in age problems?
Where do you put the The Guess Column
x in the Guess &
Check Chart
What is the most
important step? Answering the
Question!!!!!