IBPS PO Quantitative Aptitude: Problems on Ages questions with solutions

Q1. A father said to his son, "I was as old as you are at present at the time of your birth." If the father's age is 38 years now, the son's age five years ago was:

1. 14 years
2. 19 years
3. 33 years
4. 38 years

Answer: 14 years

If the son's present age is x, then at the time of his birth the father’s age was x. So the age difference between father and son is x, and the father’s present age is 2x. Given 2x = 38, we get x = 19. Five years ago, the son was 19 - 5 = 14 years old.

Q2. A is two years older than B, who is twice as old as C. If the total of the ages of A, B, and C is 27, then how old is B?

1. 7
2. 8
3. 9
4. 10

Answer: 10

Let C = x. Then B = 2x and A = 2x + 2. Their sum is (2x + 2) + 2x + x = 27, so 5x + 2 = 27 and x = 5. Therefore B = 2x = 10.

Q3. The present ages of Sameer and Anand are in the ratio 5:4 respectively. Three years hence, the ratio of their ages will become 11:9 respectively. What is Anand's present age?

1. 24
2. 27
3. 40
4. Cannot be determined

Answer: 24

Let Sameer and Anand be 5x and 4x respectively. After 3 years, \(\frac{5x+3}{4x+3} = \frac{11}{9}\). Cross-multiplying gives 45x + 27 = 44x + 33, so x = 6. Anand's present age is 4x = 24 years.