A grocery store bought some apples at a rate of 5 for a dollar.
A grocery store bought some apples at a rate of 5 for a dollar. They were separated into two stacks, one of which was sold at a rate of 3 for a dollar and the other at a rate of 6 for a dollar. What was the ratio of the number of apples in the two stacks if the store broke even after having sold all of its apples?
Answer/Solution
1:4
Steps/Work
To avoid fractions, assume there were 45 apples. So the store bought them for 45/5 = 9 dollars.
To break even, the selling price should be $9 too. 45 mangoes can be split into 1:4, 2:3 or 1:2. So let's try these.
45 split in the ratio 1:4 gives 9 and 36.
9 apples split into 3 apples each will give $3.
36 apples split into 6 apples each will give $6.
They add up to $9 so we have hit the right answer.
Answer (C)
To break even, the selling price should be $9 too. 45 mangoes can be split into 1:4, 2:3 or 1:2. So let's try these.
45 split in the ratio 1:4 gives 9 and 36.
9 apples split into 3 apples each will give $3.
36 apples split into 6 apples each will give $6.
They add up to $9 so we have hit the right answer.
Answer (C)