Question

If Amulya is ‘\[x\]’ years of age now, then what was Amulya’s age 5 years ago? Choose the correct option:
A) \[(5 - x)\] years.
B) \[(5 + x)\] years.
C) \[(x - 5)\] years.
D) \[(5 \div x)\] years.

Answer 1

Hint:Denote the unknown quantity by some letters. Translate the statements of the problem into mathematical statements. By using the condition(s) given in the problem, form an equation. Solve the equation for the unknown and we can check whether the solution satisfies the equation by substituting the values which we get as an answer in the given equation.

Complete step-by-step answer:
As we don’t know the present age of Amulya’s and according to the question it is determined to be \[x\]
Her age 5 years ago should be \[(x - 5)\] years.
The age of Amulya is \[(x - 5)\] years given that $x$>5, otherwise her age will be 0 or negative which means she was half with her mother and half with her father and the age of each half of Amulya is $(y - 13)$, where $y$ is the age of her father or mother.
So if $x$< 5, any value of $y$ for any of her parent’s age will give the age of respective half, given that
The age of Amulya 5 years ago should be \[(x - 5)\] years.

So, the correct answer is “Option C”.

Note:Alternative Method:
It depends on the value given to “$x$”. If $x$ is of an unknown value then the answer is\[(x - 5)\]which though correct in algebra talk, does not really give us her age because $x$remains an unknown constant.
However, $x$is also the Roman numeral for 10. So “$x$” or $10 - x$ would equal to 5.
$\therefore $ The age of Amulya 5 years ago should be \[(x - 5)\] years.
Hence, the option ‘C’ is the correct answer.