Using numbers
24\div2 = 12, 12+3 and 12-3 are 6 apart and add up to 24
(or use pairs of numbers that add up to 24)
15 girls and 9 boys
Ratio 15:9 = 5:3
Using algebra
There are g girls and b boys: g+b=24\\ \hspace{1mm} \\g=b+6\Rightarrow g-b=6
Adding the two equations gives 2g = 30 So g=15, b=9 and g:b=15:9=5:3