A parent is 2 times as old as their child. Together they are 63. How old is each?
The child is 21 and the parent is 42.
How to work it out
- 1
Let x be the child's age. The parent is 2 times as old, so the parent is 2x.
- 2
Together they are 63:
- 3
Combine the x terms and divide:
- 4
The parent is 2 × 21 = 42.
- 5
Check: 21 + 42 = 63 ✓ and 42 = 2 × 21 ✓.
LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ x + 2x = 63\ \Rightarrow\ x = 21 \]
\[ x + 2x = 63 \]
\[ 3x = 63\ \Rightarrow\ x = \frac{63}{3} = 21 \]Questions
How old is the child?
21.
How old is the parent?
42.