A is elder to B by 2 years. A's father F is twice as old as A and B is twice as old as his sister S.
A is elder to B by 2 years. A's father F is twice as old as A and B is twice as old as his sister S. If the ages of the father and sister differ by 40 years, find the age of A.
Let the present ages of $A, B, F$ and $S$ be $x, y, z$ and $t$ years respectively.
$A$ is elder to $B$ by 2 years. Thus, we have $x=y+2$
$F$ is twice as old as $A$. Thus, we have $z=2 x$
$B$ is twice as old as $S$. Thus, we have $y=2 t$
The ages of $F$ and $S$ is differing by 40 years. Thus, we have $z-t=40$
So, we have four equations
$x=y+2, \ldots \ldots(1)$
$z=2 x, \ldots \ldots(2)$
$y=2 t, \ldots \ldots(3)$
$z-t=40 \ldots \ldots(4)$
Here x, y, z and t are unknowns. We have to find the value of x.
By using the third equation, the first equation becomes $x=2 t+2$
From the fourth equation, we have $t=z-40$
Hence, we have
$x=2(z-40)+2$
$=2 z-80+2$
$=2 z-78$
Using the second equation, we have
$x=2 \times 2 x-78$
$\Rightarrow x=4 x-78$
$\Rightarrow 4 x-x=78$
$\Rightarrow 3 x=78$
$\Rightarrow x=\frac{78}{3}$
$\Rightarrow x=26$
Hence, the age of $A$ is 26 years.