Question

The ages of Rahul and Haroon are in the ratio 5:7. Four years later the sum of their ages will be 56 years. What are their present ages?

Answer 1

Let common ratio between Rahul’s age and Haroon’s age be x.

Therefore, age of Rahul and Haroon will be 5x years and 7x years respectively. After 4 years, the age of Rahul and Haroon will be (5x + 4) years and (7x + 4) years respectively.

According to the given question, after 4 years, the sum of the ages of Rahul and Haroon is 56 years.

∴ (5x + 4 + 7x + 4) = 56

12x + 8 = 56

On transposing 8 to R.H.S, we obtain

12x = 56 − 8

12x = 48

On dividing both sides by 12, we obtain

`(12x)/12 = 48/12`

x = 4

Rahul’s age = 5x years = (5 × 4) years = 20 years.

Haroon’s age = 7x years = (7 × 4) years = 28 years.