Problems on Ages is a topic that is quite easy to score in MBA exams. Age problems are important because MBA aspirants need to have the problem-solving skills to recognize what is the critical data that is needed to solve problems fast. The type of questions that come under is the calculation of one’s age given some hints/ ages of other people that are related. Moreover, solving these age related questions increase the overall aptitude of the candidate. This would help a student not only perform well in Quantitative Aptitude but also in LRDI section.
Ages Problems are there in almost every MBA exam, including CAT, XAT, IIFT and more. Last year, multiple questions related to Ages were there and all of them were relatively easy. Hence, this is a topic one must complete for easy marks.
The list of concepts that should be known by students for the ages problems are as follows: –
• If the present age of a person is x, then n times the present age of that person=nx
• If the present age of a person is x, then the age of that person n years later=x+n
• If the present age of a person is x, then the age of that person n years ago=x-n
• The ages of two people are in the ratio a:b, then their ages will be ax and by respectively
• If the current age of a person is x, then 1/nth age of that person=x/n
• When a person replaces another person then:
• If the average is increased, then
Age of new person= Age of person who left + (Increase in average * total number of persons)
• If the average is decreased, then
Age of new person= Age of person who left – (Decrease in average * total number of persons)
Below we have provided problems on ages with solutions that can be useful for preparation of ages aptitude questions are: –
1. [CAT 2020]
Dick is thrice as old as Tom and Harry is twice as old as Dick. If Dick’s age is 1 year less than the average age of all three, then Harry’s present age, in years, is (in numerical value) ___________.
Let the age of Tom = x
So age of Dick = 3x
Age f Harry = 6x
Average age = (6x+3x+x)/3 = 10x/3
As per question,
10x/3 – 1 = 3x
Or x= 3
So age of Harry =6x = 18
2. [CAT 2018]
In an apartment complex, the number of people aged 51 years and above is 30 and there are at most 39 people whose ages are below 51 years. The average age of all the people in the apartment complex is 38 years. What is the largest possible average age, in years, of the people whose ages are below 51 years?
A) 27 B) 28 C) 26 D) 25
Let the average age of people aged 51 years and above be x years. Let the average age of people aged below 51 years be y years.
Let the number of people aged below 51 years be N.
Given, the average age of all the people in the apartment complex is 38 years.
Therefore,
We want to maximize y, which occurs when x is minimum i.e. for x=51.
Substituting the value of x in (1) we get-
390=N×(38-y)
Again, when y is maximum, N is also maximum i.e. 39
Therefore, maximum value of y = 28.
3. [CAT 2007]
Ten years ago, the ages of the members of a joint family of eight people added up to 231 years. Three years later, one member died at the age of 60 years and a child was born during the same year. After another three years, one more member died, again at 60, and a child was born during the same year. The current average age of this eight-member joint family is nearest to:
The total age of all the eight people in the family = 231 As per the information given in the question, the total age of all the people in the family = 231 + 3 × 8 – 60 + 0 = 195
Similarly, the total age of the people in the family four years ago = 195 + 3 × 8 – 60 + 0 = 159.
Therefore, the current average age of all the people in the family = (159+32)/8 = 24 years
We will now look at how to prepare for age based question with respect to different levels of preparation:
• Students are supposed to have basic knowledge of ratios, averages, fractions to attempt such questions. For this, we recommend using MBAP CAT E-Book (Concept Theory) study material.
• Students should develop problem-solving skills to identify critical data and use them to find solutions. If you find any trouble in this, be sure to refer to MBAP Live Lecture Recording (Basic) on basic concept.
• For an age related question, we would also suggest a candidate to use the MBAP CAT E-Book (Practice Questions) as well as MBAP Lecture Assignment.
• Topics such as average age, age after n years, age before n years are important concepts that the student needs to be thorough on. To make sure that no doubts are left while preparing, be sure to solve previous year questions. For this, we recommend using the MBAP Topic wise Previous Year CAT Question.
• The problems on ages in the QA section is one of the easiest sections to attempt if the students have done their preparation properly
For Ages, Students need to look into problems that use multiple concepts to find a solution. Try to answer questions from the advanced level of previous CAT papers, mock tests, and materials. These are all readily available if you use the MBAP CAT Advance E books.
Also, try to attempt these questions in a time-based manner. Taking too much time for advanced questions will be disadvantageous in cracking the exam. Finally, students need to practice as many questions as they can to get a hold of the concepts and find solutions fast. Practice will always help the student to crack the exam. So be sure to practice previous CAT papers using MBAP Previous Year CAT paper.
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