The ratio of the ages of three children is 2:4:5. The sum of their ages is 33. What is the age of each child?

We can represent this situation by the equation 2x+4x+5x=33.

Then 11x=33, and x = 3.

Then the children's ages are in the ratio 2x:4x:5x, or 2 (3) : 4 (3) : 5 (3), or

6:12:15.

Do these 3 ages add up to 33? 6 + 12 + 15 = 33? YES!

The children's ages are 6, 12 and 15 years respectively.