Age and Year Word Problems
Age and year questions test whether you can keep track of direction: older means born earlier, younger means born later, and age gaps stay the same as time passes.
The Rules Every Age and Year Question Uses
These questions are usually short, but the direction matters. A quick timeline helps stop older and younger from getting reversed.
🎂 Rule 1: Older means born earlier
If someone is older, subtract the age gap from the younger person's birth year.
Example: Martha was born in 1951. Cynthia is 7 years older, so Cynthia was born in 1944.
📅 Rule 2: Younger means born later
If someone is younger, add the age gap to the older person's birth year.
Example: Sophie was born in 1989. Linda is 11 years younger, so Linda was born in 2000.
🔒 Rule 3: Age gaps stay the same
If one person is currently 42 years older, they will still be 42 years older in the future.
Example: Bert is 5 and his father is 47, so the gap is 42 years.
⏩ Rule 4: Future age adds the same time to both people
To find a future age, work out how many years pass for the target person, then add that to the other person too.
Example: A father goes from 47 to 61, so 14 years pass. Bert goes from 5 to 19.
3 Worked Age and Year Examples
One straightforward, one multi-step, and one classic mistake to avoid.
1. Younger Means Later Birth Year
Question: Linda is 11 years younger than Sophie. Sophie was born in 1989. When was Linda born?
Worked Method
Step 1: Linda is younger, so she was born later.
Step 2: Add the age gap to Sophie's birth year: 1989 + 11 = 2000.
Tip: Younger people have larger, later birth years.
2. Future Age from a Parent's Age
Question: Bert is 5 years old. His father is 47 years old. How old will Bert be when his father is 61?
Worked Method
Step 1: Find how many years pass for the father: 61 - 47 = 14 years.
Step 2: Bert also gets 14 years older: 5 + 14 = 19.
Tip: When time passes, everyone ages by the same number of years.
3. Older Means Earlier Birth Year
Question: Jenny is 3 years older than her sister. Her sister was born in 1985. When was Jenny born?
Worked Method
Step 1: Jenny is older, so she was born before her sister.
Step 2: Subtract the age gap from the sister's birth year: 1985 - 3 = 1982.
Tip: The trap is adding 3. That would make Jenny younger, not older.
Before You Buy
Want to check the level and layout first? Download the free 3-question sample. It uses the same question style, printable format, and answer-key approach as the full pack.
Download Free Sample PDFGet the Full Practice Pack
The full Age and Year Problems pack contains 75 questions across 3 printable test sets. Students practise birth years, age differences, future ages, and timeline reasoning.
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