Question

Mario is 15 years older than Pete. Two years from now, Mario will be four times as old as Pete. How old is each now?

Answer 1

Mario is `18` years old and Pete is `3` years old.

Explanation:

Let Pete be `x` years old and Mario be `x+15` years old. After `2` years, Pete will be `x+2` and Mario will be

`(x+15+2)=x+17`

Given Mario will be `4` times as old as Pete

`x+17 = 4(x+2)`

`x+17 = 4x+8`

`-3x = 8-17`

`3x = 9`

`x = 3`

Therefore, Pete's present age is `3` yrs and Mario's present age is `x+15`, i.e. `18` yrs.

Answer 2

Pete is `3`, Mario is `18`

Explanation:

`M = 15 + P` `lArr` this is always true! Mario is always `15` years older than Pete

and

`M= 4P` `color(white)(..)` (two years from now)

set them equal to eachother and solve

`15 + P = 4P`

`15 = 3P`

`5 = P`

Pete would be `5` years old in `2` years, and Mario would be `20` years old. If our math is right, then Pete should be one quarter of Mario's age. Is that true?

`20/4 = 5`, which is how old Pete is (in two years)! How old are he and Mario now?

Mario is `20-2` or `18` years old and Pete is `5-2` or `3`.