Can you solve this math puzzle?
A father is four times as old as his son. In 20 years, he will be twice as old as his son.
How old are they now?
Think you know the answer?
To see the answer to the math puzzle, click to expand the accordion below.
The son is 10 years old and the father is 40 years old, making the father four times as old as his son.
In 20 years, the son will be 30 and the father will be 60, making the father twice as old as his son.
Need a hint?
If you need a hint, click to expand the accordion below.
If you can’t get it, start with an assumption that the son is 1 years old and the father is 4 (four times his son’s age). Now add 20 years to each and see if the father is only two times older than his son.
Since that doesn’t work (spoiler alert) try assuming the son is 2 and repeat the process until you get to an age that works.
This is known as “brute forcing” the answer by just guessing each number until you get to the right answer.
