At the time of a son’s marriage, the average age of the mother, the father and the son was 42 years. One year after the marriage a baby was born, and six years after the marriage the average age of the family (mother, father, son, his wife and the child) is 36 years. What was the age of the bride at the time of the marriage?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → 25 years
An average multiplied by the number of people gives their total age. In 6 years each of the first three people has grown 6 years older, and the child, born one year after the marriage, is 5 years old.
Total age of mother, father and son at the marriage \(=3\times42=126\) years
Their total six years later \(=126+3\times6=144\) years
Total age of the family of five now \(=5\times36=180\) years
Bride \(+\) child now \(=180-144=36\) years
Child’s age now \(=6-1=5\) years, so the bride is \(36-5=31\) years now
Bride’s age at the marriage \(=31-6=25\) years