Three years ago, the ratio of the Achilles age to Hercules age was 2 : 5 . Hercules is 12 years older than Achilles now. How old is Achilles now?

Question

no idea how to solve this question, but the answer is 11

Answer 1

H=Hercules’ age now, A=Achilles’ age now.

Three years ago their ages were H-3 and A-3.

Also, H=A+12, so (A-3)/(A+12-3)=2/5,

(A-3)/(A+9)=2/5,

5A-15=2A+18,

3A=33, A=11 so Achilles is 11 years old.

(Hercules is 23. Three years ago they would have been 8 and 20, 8/20=2/5.)