Age Word Problem: Find Father & Son's % Difference

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a word problem involving the ages of a father and son, specifically focusing on the father's age being twice that of the son and a historical comparison of their ages six years prior. Participants are tasked with determining a percentage related to these ages.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants express attempts to set up equations based on the ages of the father and son, questioning the meaning of the percentage requested in the problem. Some participants also express confusion regarding the wording of the problem and its implications.

Discussion Status

There is a shared sentiment of confusion regarding the problem's wording and the relevance of the percentage. Multiple interpretations are being explored, particularly concerning the historical ages of the son and the father's age at the time of the son's birth.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem may be poorly worded, leading to misunderstandings about what is being asked. There is mention of an answer being provided in the book, which some believe relates to the son's age six years prior.

alijan kk
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Homework Statement


If a father is twice as old as his son. six years ago father was thrice as old as his son. Find the percentage.
A.10
B.12
C.120
D.6

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


first i am trying to express the equation
f=age of father
s=age of son
f=2s (father is twice as old as his son)
f-6=3(s-6) (6 years ago thrice as old as his son)

I got s=12 years old
and f=24 years old.
what does it mean by percentage here?
 
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alijan kk said:

Homework Statement


If a father is twice as old as his son. six years ago father was thrice as old as his son. Find the percentage.
A.10
B.12
C.120
D.6

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


first i am trying to express the equation
f=age of father
s=age of son
f=2s (father is twice as old as his son)
f-6=3(s-6) (6 years ago thrice as old as his son)

I got s=12 years old
and f=24 years old.
what does it mean by percentage here?

I don't know; it makes no sense.
 
I agree w/ your answer although it's just ridiculous (problem's fault, not yours) since that would mean the father had the son when he was 12 years old.

I agree w/ Ray that asking for a percentage makes no sense. Did you state the problem exactly as worded?
 
Ray Vickson said:
I don't know; it makes no sense.
If the question is "what is the age of the son 6 years before..
s-6=6
then six would be correct answer?

In the book 6 is the answer for the original question(percentage)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
phinds said:
I agree w/ your answer although it's just ridiculous (problem's fault, not yours) since that would mean the father had the son when he was 12 years old.

I agree w/ Ray that asking for a percentage makes no sense. Did you state the problem exactly as worded?
yes exactly it is written like that. but the answer is six so i think it is asking for the age of son six years before
 
alijan kk said:
yes exactly it is written like that. but the answer is six so i think it is asking for the age of son six years before
In that case it is REALLY a horribly worded problem.
 

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