Question

the ratio of the ages of two persons is 5:9 and the age of one of them is greater then the other by 40 years.the sum of their ages, in years, is

Answer 1

Let their ages be 5x and 9x

And 5x+40=9x

So 5x-9x=-40

-4x=-40

x=10

So their ages are 50 and 90

And sum of their ages is 140 years

Answer 2

5x + 9x = 40

14x =40

20/7 =140