11. The sum of the ages of a father and son is 50 years. The father is four times as old as his son. How old are they? 3 mark)

Let's set the son's age as "x" years. According to the problem, the father's age would then be "4x" years. Together their ages sum up to 50 years, so we can create the equation: x + 4x = 50. This simplifies to: 5x = 50. Now, divide both sides by 5, resulting in: x = 10. This means the son is 10 years old, and the father, being four times that age, is 40 years old. To bring a real-world perspective, this age relationship isn’t just a mathematical curiosity. It often illustrates generational dynamics, showcasing how experiences and perspectives can differ broadly depending on age gaps in families or organizations. It’s a reminder that age can lead to wisdom, or sometimes just a lot of dad jokes! In similar age problems, a common mistake is to misinterpret the relationships between the ages. Always double-check your variables—it's easy to mix them up! Make sure you clearly define which variable represents which person to avoid confusion in the calculations.