Question

If Meera’s present age is x years and Meera’s father’s age is 5 years more than 3 times her age. What is her father’s age?

Answer 1

Hint: Given an age in terms of x may be in any degree. The condition for father’s age may be in any degree, but there-after age will increase linearly. That is as every year passes the age will increase by 1. The difference in their age is also a constant mono polynomial. So, by that, we can get a relation between Meera’s age and her father’s age. The relation has variable x on both sides.

Complete step-by-step solution -
Given in the question: the present age of Meera: Meera’s age is x years.
The condition on Meera’s father’s age is given by His age is 5 years more than 3 times her age.
3 times her age means 3x years. As by each year it increases by 1, 5 years means $(3x + 5)$ years.
Explaining it step by step: -
By the above condition, 3 times Meera’s age implies 3 (Meera’s age).
By saying 5 years more than the above, we get: Each year passes implies 1 year more.
Father’s age = 3 (Meera’s age) + \[1\times 5\].
By simplifying the above equation, we get the age as:
Father’s age = $3x + 5$.
So, the age of Meera’s father in terms of x is $(3x + 5)$.

Note: Generally students forget to take 3 before adding 5. They do it after adding 5. Thus they get 3(x + 5). They do it after adding 5. Thus they get 3(x + 5) which leads to 3x + 15 but it is wrong. It is given 5 years more than 3 times. So, 3 times of age must be applied first. Generally, students forget to consider term 5. But it is given “5 years more”. So, if you don’t make these 2 mistakes you will get the right answer. These are the only 2 possible mistakes. Read questions carefully to avoid them.