a family has 3 children the eldest is 8 years older than the middle child and the youngest is 12 years younger than the eldest child of the total of their age is 88 how old is each child?

2 answers

If their ages are a < b < c then

c = b+8
a = c-12
a+b+c = 88

...
E-8=M
Y+12=E
E+Y+M=88

putting it in standard form..
E-M+0y=8
E-oM-y=12
E+M+Y=88

add the last two
2E+M=100 add to the first equation
3E=108
E=36
M=28
Y=24