SOLUTION: In three years' time, a father will be three times as old as his son. If the ratio of their ages is 2:7, find their present age.

Question 1191555:
In three years' time, a father will be three times as old as his son. If the ratio of their ages is 2:7, find their present age.
Answer by ikleyn(52797) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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In three years' time, a father will be three times as old as his son.
If the ratio of their ages is 2:7, find their present age.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Their current ages are 2x (the son) and 7x (the father), where x is the common measure,
now unknown.


To find this unknown, we have this equation ("three years later")

    7x + 3 = 3*(2x+3).


Simplify and find x

    7x + 3 = 6x + 9

    7x - 6x = 9 - 3

       x    =   6


ANSWER.  Their current ages are 2*6 = 12 years (the son)  and 7*6 = 42 years (the father).

Solved.

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