Math Problem Statement

When I was married 10 years ago my wife is the 6th member of the family. Today my father died and a baby was born to me. The average age of my family during my marriage is the same as today. What is the age of my father when he died?

Solution

The problem in the image can be broken down as follows:

  • 10 years ago, the person got married and their wife became the 6th member of the family.
  • Today, the person's father died and a baby was born, so the family still has 6 members.
  • The average age of the family today is the same as it was 10 years ago.
  • We are asked to find the age of the father when he died.

Let's define some variables:

  • Let S0S_0 be the total sum of the ages of the family members at the time of the marriage (10 years ago).
  • Let S1S_1 be the total sum of the ages today.
  • Let the age of the father 10 years ago be ff.
  • Let the father's age today (when he died) be f+10f+10.

Step-by-step Analysis:

  1. Sum of ages 10 years ago:

    • There were 6 family members at the time of marriage.
    • Total sum of their ages was S0S_0.
    • The average age then was S06\frac{S_0}{6}.
  2. Sum of ages today:

    • The father passed away, but a baby was born.
    • The sum of ages today is the sum of the ages of the remaining family members plus the new baby (age 0).
    • The sum today is still S0+60S_0 + 60, because each of the original 6 members (including the father) has aged by 10 years.
    • The average age today is S16=S0+606\frac{S_1}{6} = \frac{S_0 + 60}{6}.
  3. Equality of average ages:

    • The problem states that the average age today is the same as it was 10 years ago.
    • Thus, S06=S0+60(f+10)6\frac{S_0}{6} = \frac{S_0 + 60 - (f+10)}{6}.
    • Simplifying this gives: S0=S0+50fS_0 = S_0 + 50 - f.
    • Therefore, f=50f = 50.

So, the father was 60 years old when the marriage took place, and he died 10 years later, at 70 years old.

The correct answer is 70.


Would you like further clarification or details on this problem?

Here are some additional related questions:

  1. How does the average age of a group change over time with the addition of new members?
  2. How can this type of problem be solved using algebraic methods?
  3. What is the significance of the average remaining the same after a time period?
  4. How would the answer change if the father had died a year earlier?
  5. What if the baby born was not a newborn, but 2 years old?

Tip: Whenever dealing with averages, remember that the total sum divided by the number of members gives the average. Keep this basic relation in mind for various situations!

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Averages
Algebra

Formulas

Average = Total Sum / Number of Members
Sum of ages = S_0 + 60 - father's age

Theorems

Equality of Averages

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 9-12