Question:
Ashu is $x$ years old while his mother Mrs Veena is $x^{2}$ years old. Five years hence Mrs Veena will be three times old as Ashu. Find their present ages.
Solution:
Given that Ashu's present age is $=x$ years and his mother Mrs. Veena is $=x^{2}$ years
Then according to question,
Five years later, Ashu's is $=(x+5)$ years
And his mother Mrs. Veena is $=\left(x^{2}+5\right)$ years
Thus
$x^{2}+5=3(x+5)$
$x^{2}+5=3 x+15$
$x^{2}+5-3 x-15=0$
$x^{2}-3 x+10=0$
$x^{2}-5 x+2 x+10=0$
$x(x-5)+2(x-5)=0$
$(x-5)(x+2)=0$
So, either
$(x-5)=0$
$x=5$
Or
$(x+2)=0$
$x=-2$
But, the age can never be negative.
Therefore, when $x=5$ then
$x^{2}=5^{2}$
$=25$
Hence, Ashu's present age is $=5$ years and his mother Mrs. Veena is $=25$ years