Start here · the first lesson of Age relation puzzles
Age relation puzzles
Age / Quant-Reasoning puzzles · for IPMAT Indore, IPMAT Rohtak and JIPMAT
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The idea
Age questions are linear equations in disguise. Name the present ages, translate each time-shifted statement into one equation, and solve. The one fact that never changes is the difference between two ages.
Textbook vs exam method
Textbook method
Let the present ages be x and y. A statement "n years ago P was m times Q" becomes P - n = m(Q - n); "after n years" becomes P + n = m(Q + n). Solve the pair by substitution.
Exam method
- Ratios: write the ages as ak and bk, then use one more statement to find k.
- Averages: convert to totals; shift totals by (number of people x years).
- Sufficiency: a statement is enough only if it gives a numeric equation; two pure differences never fix an age.
- Test the answer options back in the stem when the algebra is long.