Elmer, the circus Elephant, is currently three times older than Leo, t

Question

Tough and Tricky questions: Word Problems.

Elmer, the circus Elephant, is currently three times older than Leo, the circus Lion. In five years from now, Leo the circus Lion will be exactly half as old as Elmer, the circus Elephant. How old is Elmer today?

A) 10
B) 15
C) 17
D) 22
E) 25

Kudos for a correct  solution .

Source: Chili Hot GMAT

LighthousePrep · Answer

Let e = Elmer's age today and l = Leo's age today.

First, we translate the sentences into algebraic expressions:
 e = 3l 
 l+5 = (e+5)/2

Then we solve for e.

l+5 = (e+5)/2 
 2(l+5) = 2((e+5)/2) 
 2l+10 = e+5 
 2l+10-5 = e+5-5 
  2l+5 = e

e = 3l 
 2l+5 = 3l 
 2l+5-2l = 3l-2l 
 5=l

e = 3l 
 e = 3(5) 
 e = 15

Correct answer: B

Ankur9 · Answer

Given: Elmer is 3 times older than Leo---> E = 3L
Elmer's age 5 years from now = E+5
Leo's age 5 years from now = L+5
after 5 years Leo will be exactly half as old as Elmer-----> L+5 = (E+5)/2
substituting the value of L we get E/3 + 5 = (E+5)/2----> E=15
B

vietnammba · Answer

Is the answer B?
- Now: Leo is x years old, El is 3x years old
- 5 years later: Leo is x+5, El is 3x+5 and is 2 ( x+5) ( twice Leo's age)/
=> x=5 => El is 3.5 years old = 15

farzana87 · Answer

3 times older THAN L, so E= 4L
L+5=.5(5+E)
E=10
Answer A.

PareshGmat · Answer

Answer = B) 15

Elmer ......................... Leo

x ................................  \frac{x}{3}  (Current ages)

x+5 .........................  \frac{x}{3} + 5  (5 years onward)

Given that after 5 years, Leo the circus Lion will be exactly half as old as Elmer, the circus Elephant

Setting up the equation

\frac{1}{2} (x+5) = \frac{x}{3} + 5

x - \frac{2x}{3} = 10 - 5

x = 5*3 = 15

sanket1991 · Answer

Let current age of elephant be e and lion be l

e = 3l
e+5 = 2(l+5)

l = 5
e = 15

KarishmaB · Answer

Strictly mathematically, three times more would mean 4x but in regular parlance, 3 times older means 3x. So usually, in questions, when people come across 'three time more', they write it as 3x. Hopefully, GMAT will word the questions in a way to avoid this contradiction.

Now, solving the question taking regular parlance into consideration,
"Elmer, the circus Elephant, is currently three times older than Leo, the circus Lion. "

Elmer = 3*Leo
Usually, ages are integers so there is a good possibility that the age of Elmer is 15 (the only option that is a multiple of 3).
Then age of Leo would be 5. In 5 yrs, Elmer would be 20 and Leo would be 10 - so Leo would be half as old as Elmer. 
Answer (B)

AliciaSierra · Answer

Let us consider Leo's current age is X
Elmer's current age = 3X ( Because Elmer is currently three times older than Leo)

After 5 years,

Age of Leo= X+5
Age of Elmer = 3X+5

As per question, after 5 years, Leo will be exactly half as old as Elmer.

X+5= 1/2(3X+5)

Solve above equation for X,
X= 5
Elmer's current age is 3*5=15

Answer: B

devmillenium2k · Answer

Elmer (E) is 3 times older than Leo(L) => E = 3L
Elmer's age 5 years from now = E+5
Leo's age 5 years from now = L+5
after 5 years Leo will be exactly half as old as Elmer => L+5 = (E+5)/2
substituting the value of L we get E/3 + 5 = (E+5)/2 => E=15

Answer B

akumar5 · Answer

Present Age of Elmer = E
Present Age Leo = L

Given that E=3L

Also After 5 years Leo's age becomes half of Elmer.

(E+5)/2=(L+5)
 E=2L+5
 L=5;since E=3L So E=15

Answer B

Bunuel · Answer

The correct answer is B.

Check other  Age Problems HERE .

wolves5 · Answer

Set up equations.
E=3L
(L+5) = ½(E+5)

Solve.
L+5 = ½(3L+5)
L+5 = 1.5L + 2.5
2.5 = 0.5L
L=5 years old

E= (3)(5) = 15 years old
Answer: B

bumpbot · Answer

Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.

Elmer, the circus Elephant, is currently three times older than Leo, t

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Problem Solving (PS) Questions

Elmer, the circus Elephant, is currently three times older than Leo, t

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards