Pat and Chris have the same birthday Pat is twice as old as Chris was when Pat was as old as Chris is now If Pat is now 24 years old how old is chris?

Answer 1

Chris is 18 years old.

This is algebra and the convoluted references to the ages may be confusing. However, there is one simple equation that is obviously true. If we let n be the difference in the ages of Pat and Chris, then Chris is (24-n) and his age (n) years ago was (24-n)-n and Pat is twice as old as that now.

24 = 2 [(24-n)-n]
24 = 2 [ 24 - 2n ]
24 = 48 - 4n
-24 = -4n
6 = n

So Pat is now 24 and Chris is (24-n) = 18