Two numbers are in the ratio 3:5. If 9 is subtracted from each number, the ratio becomes 12:23. The smaller number is?

None of these

Let the smaller number be 3x and the larger number be 5x, since their ratio is 3:5.

When 9 is subtracted from each number, the new numbers are 3x - 9 and 5x - 9.

The ratio of these new numbers is 12:23, so we can set up the equation:

(3x - 9) / (5x - 9) = 12/23

Cross-multiplying and simplifying the equation, we get:

69x - 207 = 60x - 108

Solving for x, we get:

9x = 99

x = 11

So, the smaller number is 3x = 3(11) = 33.