In 2002, Meenu’s age was one-third of the age of Meera, whereas in 2010, Meenu’s age was half the age of Meera. What is Meenu’s year of birth?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) 1994
Writing Meera's 2002 age as three times Meenu's and applying the 'half' relation eight years later gives Meenu's 2002 age as 8, so she was born in 1994.
- Let Meenu be m years old in 2002; Meera is then 3m.
- In 2010 both are 8 years older: m + 8 = (3m + 8)/2.
- 2m + 16 = 3m + 8, so m = 8.
- Meenu was 8 in 2002, so she was born in 2002 − 8 = 1994.
- Check: 2002 — 8 and 24 (one-third); 2010 — 16 and 32 (half).
Remember · Both ages move by the same number of years; write them with one variable and shift both together.
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·