It is not possible to provide a "cookbook" which will explain a specific

sequence of steps that will solve every age-related problem. But here are
some general tips:

1. Use as few variables as possible. One variable is the best.

2. Most age-related problems mention one or more people and one or
more points in time (now, in the past, in the future). Write an
expression for each possible combination of persons and points in
time. For example, if the problem mentions persons A and B and
their ages now and 3 years ago then you will write 4 expressions:
o A's age now
o B's age now
o A's age 3 years ago
o B's age 3 years ago

4 people and 3 points in time would mean 4*3 = 12 different

expressions.

3. As in most word problems it is generally advantageous to make your

variable represent the smallest value. This allows you to use addition
and/or multiplication to express the other values. In the example
above, if A is the younger person, then A's age 3 years ago would be
the smallest number. So make "x" represent A's age 3 years ago.
And A's age now would be x+3. (B's ages now and 3 years ago would
be expressed in terms of x according to the information given in the
problem.)
4. Using the relationships described in the problem write as many
equations as you have variables. 1 variable -> 1 equation, 2 variables -
> 2 equations, etc.
5. Solve the equation (or system of equations)
6. Answer the question! "x" may not be the answer to the question. But
you can use "x" and the expressions you wrote in the second step
above to answer the question.
Here's an example problem:
Four years ago Heather was four times as old as Tom. Today she is twice
as old. How old is Heather now?
Expressions. With two people and two points in time I need 4 expressions.
Since Tom is younger, I will make "x" represent his age 4 years ago:
x = Tom's age 4 years ago
4*x = Heathers age 4 years ago
x+4 = Tom's age now
4*x+4 = Heather's age now
Notice how there is only addition and multiplication. This is because I
chose "x" to be the smallest number. Although it may not always be
possible to to this, it is advantageous to make "x" the smallest number
most of the time.
Equations. 1 variable = 1 equation.
The relationship described in the problem which has not been used is:
"Today she is twice as old". Another way to word this is: "Heather's age
now is twice Tom's age now". Translating this into an equation we get:
4*x+4 = 2*(x+4)
Look at the expressions, the equation and the sentences "Today she is
twice as old" or "Heather's age now is twice Tom's age now" to see how
the sentences translate into the equation.
Now we solve. Simplify first:
4x + 4 = 2x + 8
Subtract 2x from each side:
2x + 4 = 8
Subtract 4 from each side:
2x = 4
Divide both sides by 2:
x=2
Answer the question! "x" as you can see from the expressions list above,
stand for Tom's age 4 years ago. The question is about Heather's age
now. The expressions list tells us that Heather's age now is 4*x+4. So we
use the value we found for x and this expression to answer the question:
Heather's age now = 4*x+4 = 4*(2)+4 = 8 + 4 = 12.