SOLUTION: Good day. May you please assist me with the following question: The sum of the ages of Peter and Paul is 24. Five years ago their respective ages were in the ratio 3:4. How old

Algebra ->  Percentage-and-ratio-word-problems -> SOLUTION: Good day. May you please assist me with the following question: The sum of the ages of Peter and Paul is 24. Five years ago their respective ages were in the ratio 3:4. How old       Log On


   



Question 1169937: Good day. May you please assist me with the following question:
The sum of the ages of Peter and Paul is 24. Five years ago their respective ages were in the ratio 3:4. How old will they be in three years time?
Thank you for your assistance.

Answer by htmentor(1343) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let P = Peter's age
Then Paul's age will be 24 - P
Five years ago, their ages were P - 5 and 24 - P - 5 = 19 - P,
and these are in the ratio 3:4 -> (P-5)/(19-P) = 3/4
Solve for P:
4P - 20 = 57 - 3P -> 7P = 77 -> P = 11
Thus, in 3 years, Peter will be 14 and Paul will be 16