SOLUTION: i tried multiplying and adding but i don't think i did it right here is my question: the ratio of the ages of 3 children is 1: 3 : 5. the oldest child is 12 years older than the

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Question 882348: i tried multiplying and adding but i don't think i did it right here is my question: the ratio of the ages of 3 children is 1: 3 : 5. the oldest child is 12 years older than the youngest child. how old is the middle child.
thank you for the help!
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The ratio of the youngest to the oldest is 1:5, part of the given combined ratio.

Oldest child, z,
z=12+x, using x for youngest child.
Think about their ratio again.
1%2F5=x%2F%2812%2Bx%29
Solve for x, the age for the youngest child.
1=5x%2F%28x%2B12%29
x%2B12=5x
12=4x
highlight%28x=3%29.

Look again at the full ratio expression. The second child is x%2A3=3%2A3=highlight%289%29 years of age.