AGE AND RECTANGLE PROBLEMS

Apply Polya’s 4-step solving problem strategy.

1) Gio is younger than GR by 4 years. Two years ago GR’s age was 4 less than twice Gio’s age. How old
are they?
Let g = present age of GR = 14
g - 4 = present age of Gio = 10

g - 2 = 2(g - 4 - 2) - 4 Check:
g - 2 = 2(g - 6) - 4
g - 2 = 2g - 12 - 4 14 - 2 = 12
g - 2 = 2g - 16 10 - 2 = 8
g - 2g = 2 - 16
-g = -14 12 = 2 (8) - 4
g = 14

2) Paul has a son 3 years old. He is at present 30 years old. In how many years will Paul be twice as old
as his son?

Let y = time in years when Paul will be twice as old as his son

2(3 + y) = 30 + y Check:
6 + 2y = 30 + y 3 + 24 = 27
2y - y = 30 - 6 30 + 24 = 54
y = 24

3) Mathew is three more than three times as old as John. Three years from now he will be 10 more
than twice the age of John. How old is John?

Let j = present age of John = 10 yrs. old

3j + 3 = present age of Mathew

4) The length of a rectangle is twice its width. Find its dimensions if its perimeter is 108.

Let w = width = 18 units

2w = length = 36 units

2 (2w) + 2w = 108 Check :

4w + 2w = 108 2(18) = 36
6w = 108 2(36) = 72
w = 18 --------
108
5) The width of a window pane is 2 more than thrice its length. What are its dimensions if its
perimeter is 132 cm.

Let l = length = 16 cm
3l + 2= width = 50 cm

2l + 2(3l + 2) = 132 Check:

2l + 6l + 4 = 132 2 (16) = 32
8l = 128 2 (50) = 100
l = 16 --------
132

6) The length of a playground is 2 more than twice its width. Find its dimensions if its area is 84 square
meters.

Let w = width = 6 meters

2w + 2 = length = 14 meters

(2w + 2) w = 84 Check:
2w2 + 2w - 84 = 0 14m (6m) = 84 square meters
w2 + w - 42 = 0
( w + 7 ) (w - 6 ) = 0
w+7=0 w-6=0
w= -7 w = 6 (accept)