Today Jim is twice as old as Fred, and Sam is 2 years younger than Fred.
Today Jim is twice as old as Fred, and Sam is 2 years younger than Fred. Five years ago Jim was 5 times as old as Sam. How old is Jim now?
Answer/Solution
20
Steps/Work
We're asked how old Jim is NOW. We're given three facts to work with:
1) Today, Jim is TWICE as old as Fred
2) Today, Sam is 2 years younger than Fred
3) Five years ago, Jim was 5 times as old as Sam.
let's TEST Answer D: 20
IF....Jim is currently 20 years old....
Fred is 10 years old
Sam is 8 years old
5 years ago, Jim was 15 and Sam was 3, so Jim WAS 5 times Sam's age. This is an exact MATCH for what we were told, so this MUST be the answer.
D
1) Today, Jim is TWICE as old as Fred
2) Today, Sam is 2 years younger than Fred
3) Five years ago, Jim was 5 times as old as Sam.
let's TEST Answer D: 20
IF....Jim is currently 20 years old....
Fred is 10 years old
Sam is 8 years old
5 years ago, Jim was 15 and Sam was 3, so Jim WAS 5 times Sam's age. This is an exact MATCH for what we were told, so this MUST be the answer.
D