Ratio between the ages of Subhash, Prasad and Amar is $3 : 6 : 7$. If the difference between the ages of Prasad and Amar is 10 years, then what is the difference between the ages of Subhash and Prasad?
Aptitude
Problems on Ages
Difficulty: Easy
Choose an option
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A5 years
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B10 years
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C20 years
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D30 years
Answer
Correct Answer: 30 years
Explanation
### Concept & Logic
Treat ratio numbers as distinct, uniform building blocks (units). The true numerical difference between any two individuals' ages corresponds perfectly to the difference in their respective ratio units.
### Step-by-Step Solution
* **Given:**
* Subhash : Prasad : Amar = $3 : 6 : 7$
* Age difference (Prasad and Amar) = $10$ years
* **Calculation / Deduction:**
* Let their actual ages be $3x$, $6x$, and $7x$ respectively.
* The difference between Prasad and Amar's ages algebraically is:
* $7x - 6x = x$
* We are explicitly given that this difference is $10$ years, making $x = 10$.
* The question asks for the difference between Subhash and Prasad's ages:
* Difference = $6x - 3x = 3x$
* Substitute the known value of $x$:
* Difference = $3 \times 10 = 30$ years.
### Exam Strategy & Shortcut
Solve entirely in ratio units without deploying variables.
Look at Prasad ($6$) and Amar ($7$). They have a gap of exactly $1$ ratio unit.
Since this $1 \text{ unit} = 10 \text{ years}$, the scale is set.
Now look at Subhash ($3$) and Prasad ($6$). They have a gap of exactly $3$ ratio units.
Therefore, $3 \text{ units} \times 10 \text{ years} = 30 \text{ years}$.
This takes under 5 seconds and requires zero algebra.
### Common Pitfall
Many students waste valuable exam time unnecessarily calculating the exact individual ages of all three people ($30$, $60$, and $70$ years old) before performing the final subtraction, rather than just comparing the ratio units directly.
### Final Answer
**Therefore, the correct answer is 30 years.**