Question

Alex is 12 years older than George. Carl is Three times older than Alex The sum of their ages is 68 Find the ratio of George’s age to Carl’s age to Alex’s age

Answer 1

Ratio of George’s age to Carl’s age to Alex’s age is 1 : 12 : 4

Solution:

Let "a" be the age of Alex

Let "g" be the age of George

Let "c" be the age of Carl

Alex is 12 years older than George

Therefore,

Age of Alex = 12 + Age of George

a = 12 + g

g = a - 12 ---- eqn 1

Carl is Three times older than Alex

Age of Carl = 3 x Age of Alex

c = 3a -------- eqn 2

The sum of their ages is 68

age of Alex + age of George + age of Carl = 68

a + g + c = 68 ----------- eqn 3

Substitute eqn 1 and eqn 2 in eqn 3

a + a - 12 + 3a = 68

5a - 12 = 68

5a = 12 + 68

5a = 80

a = 16

Substitute a = 16 in eqn 2

c = 3(16) = 48

c = 48

Substitute a = 16 in eqn 1

g = 16 - 12 = 4

g = 4

Find the ratio of George’s age to Carl’s age to Alex’s age

Ratio of George’s age to Carl’s age to Alex’s age = g : c : a

g : c : a = 4 : 48 : 16

Divide the above ratio by 4 to reduce to lowest terms

g : c : a - 1 : 12 : 4

Thus ratio of George’s age to Carl’s age to Alex’s age is 1 : 12 : 4