Question

when joe is 12 years older, he will be 36. How old is he now? (i suck at word problems and i need help writing an equation)

Answer 1

"when Joe is 12 years older" <--- meaning, Joe in 12 years from now
"he will be 36"

so Joe in 12 years from now, will be 36, how old is he today?

Answer 2

as a matter of an equation, one can say that if he's "x years old" today, 12 years from now he will be "x + 12" naturally and that will EQUATE 36
since 12 years from now he'll be 36

Answer 3

if joe is 36 in 12 more years, his age now can be shown as x=36-12

Answer 4

x + 12 = 36
x = 36 - 12
x = 24