Ages (three-person linkage with future info): A man is 3 years older than his wife and four times as old as his son. In 3 years, the son will be 15. Find the wife's present age.

Introduction / Context:
This question ties three people's ages with both a present multiple and a short future snapshot. Determine the son's present age from the future clue, then scale to the man and offset to the wife.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Son in 3 years = 15 ⇒ Son now = 12.
• Man now = 4 × Son = 48.
• Man is 3 years older than wife ⇒ Wife now = 48 − 3.

Concept / Approach:
Work backward from the future value of the son to today, apply the given multiple to get the father's age, and then subtract the given difference to get the wife's age.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
In 3 years: son 15; man 51; wife 48. The difference between man and wife remains 3 (✓), and the 4× relation holds only at present as stated (which is the intended reading).

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
They break either the 4× present multiple or the 3-year future statement when reconstructed.

Common Pitfalls:
Applying the 4× relation to the future ages instead of the present, which is not what the stem states.

Final Answer:
45 years