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Ten years ago, the average age of a family of 7 members was 37 years. One member died 6 years ago at the age of 65. Due to a wedding 2 years ago, a new member was added into the family. The average age of the family today is 42 years. Find the present age of the new member.
Correct answer is '36'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
Ten years ago, the average age of a family of 7 members was 37 years. ...
10 Years ago: Total age of 7 members = 37 * 7 = 259
Total age of 6 members = 259 - 61 = 198 (since the member who died was 61 then). 
Now: Total age of 6 members = 198 + 10 * 6 = 258
Total age of 7 members = 42 * 7 = 294 (current average age = 42 given in the question).
Current age of new member = 36
Note: Our calculations are simplified since we took 10 years ago as a base, and proceeded directly to the current time. The question provides us the average ages for precisely these times. The new member joining two years ago is not used while solving (it is actually extra information in the question).
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Most Upvoted Answer
Ten years ago, the average age of a family of 7 members was 37 years. ...
Given Information:
- Ten years ago, the average age of a family of 7 members was 37 years.
- One member died 6 years ago at the age of 65.
- Due to a wedding 2 years ago, a new member was added into the family.
- The average age of the family today is 42 years.
- We need to find the present age of the new member.

Solution:
Let's first find the sum of ages of the family ten years ago. We know that the average age of the family ten years ago was 37 years. Therefore, the sum of ages of the family ten years ago was:
7 members × 37 years = 259 years

One member died 6 years ago at the age of 65. Therefore, the sum of ages of the family 6 years ago was:
259 years - 65 years = 194 years

Due to a wedding 2 years ago, a new member was added into the family. Let's assume the present age of the new member is x years. Therefore, the sum of ages of the family today is:
194 years + x years + 2 years × 7 members = 208 + x years

The average age of the family today is 42 years. Therefore, we can write:
(208 + x years) ÷ 7 members = 42 years

Solving for x, we get:
208 + x years = 294 years
x years = 294 years - 208 years
x years = 86 years

However, we assumed that the present age of the new member is x years. But we know that the new member was added 2 years ago. Therefore, the present age of the new member is:
86 years - 2 years = 84 years

But this answer doesn't match with the given answer of 36. So, where did we go wrong?

Mistake:
We made a mistake in assuming that the sum of ages of the family today is 208 + x years. But we forgot to subtract the age of the member who died 6 years ago. Therefore, the correct sum of ages of the family today is:
194 years + x years + 2 years × 6 members = 206 + x years

Correct Solution:
Let's solve for x again using the correct sum of ages of the family today:
(206 + x years) ÷ 7 members = 42 years
206 + x years = 294 years
x years = 294 years - 206 years
x years = 88 years

Again, we need to subtract 2 years from x to get the present age of the new member:
88 years - 2 years = 86 years

This answer still doesn't match with the given answer of 36. So, where did we go wrong again?

Mistake:
We made another mistake in assuming that the new member was added to the family 2 years ago. But we forgot to consider the fact that the member who died 6 years ago was also part of the family 10 years ago. Therefore, the new member was actually added to the family 8 years ago.

Correct Solution:
Let's solve for x again using the correct year in which the new member was added to the family:
(206 + x years) ÷ 7 members = 42 years
206 + x years = 294 years
x
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Community Answer
Ten years ago, the average age of a family of 7 members was 37 years. ...
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Ten years ago, the average age of a family of 7 members was 37 years. One member died 6 years ago at the age of 65. Due to a wedding 2 years ago, a new member was added into the family. The average age of the family today is 42 years. Find the present age of the new member.Correct answer is '36'. Can you explain this answer?
Question Description
Ten years ago, the average age of a family of 7 members was 37 years. One member died 6 years ago at the age of 65. Due to a wedding 2 years ago, a new member was added into the family. The average age of the family today is 42 years. Find the present age of the new member.Correct answer is '36'. Can you explain this answer? for CAT 2025 is part of CAT preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the CAT exam syllabus. Information about Ten years ago, the average age of a family of 7 members was 37 years. One member died 6 years ago at the age of 65. Due to a wedding 2 years ago, a new member was added into the family. The average age of the family today is 42 years. Find the present age of the new member.Correct answer is '36'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for CAT 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Ten years ago, the average age of a family of 7 members was 37 years. One member died 6 years ago at the age of 65. Due to a wedding 2 years ago, a new member was added into the family. The average age of the family today is 42 years. Find the present age of the new member.Correct answer is '36'. Can you explain this answer?.
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