Question 5

The father will be 48 years old when the son is 24.

When the son is 24 years old, his age will double from 12. Since the father was three times the son's age at that point, he will be 48 years old at that time.

A) 36

This option is incorrect because if the son is 24 years old, the father would need to be significantly older than 36. At 12 years old, the son is 1/3 of his father's age, meaning the father must be at least 36 years old now, and will be much older when the son reaches 24.

B) 40

Choosing 40 as the father's age when the son is 24 is also incorrect. If the son is 12 and the father is 36, by the time the son reaches 24, the father would be 48. Therefore, 40 is not a feasible age for the father at that time.

C) 48

This option is correct. When the son is 24, he will have aged 12 years, and during that time, the father will have aged by the same 12 years. Therefore, if the father was initially 36 years old, he will be 48 years old when the son is 24.

D) 60

This option is incorrect. If the father were 60 when the son is 24, it would imply he was 48 at the time the son was 12, which does not fit the original relationship of the son being 1/3 of the father's age.

E) 72

Choosing 72 is incorrect as it suggests an unrealistic increase in age for the father. Given the relationship established, the father cannot be 72 when the son is 24, since the father was only 36 when the son was 12.

F) none

This option is incorrect because there is indeed a valid answer among the provided choices. The correct age of the father when the son is 24 is clearly defined as 48.

Conclusion

The only option that accurately reflects the father’s age when the son reaches 24 years old is 48. All other options fail to consider the established age ratio and the mechanics of aging over the specified time period. Thus, C is the definitive and correct answer.