Question

A spice mix contains coriander and cumin in the ratio 1/2 cup : 1/4 cup . A cup of coriander is 80 grams. A cup of cumin is 100 grams. Work out the mass of 6 cups of the spice mix.

Answer 1

Total mass of the mixture is 520 grams.

Explanation:

The ratio of coriander and cumin in the mixture is
`(1)/(2):(1)/(4)`cups.

Therefore, the quantity of coriander in 6 cups will be =
`((1)/(2) )/((1)/(2)+(1)/(4))* 6`

=
`((1)/(2))/((3)/(4))* 6`

=
`(1)/(2)* (4)/(3)* 6`

= 4 cups

And number of cups of cumin = 6 - 4

= 2 cups

Since a cup coriander weighs 80 grams and cumin weighs 100 grams.

Amount of coriander in the mixture = 4×80

= 320 grams

Amount of cumin in the mixture = 2×100

= 200 grams

Total mass of the mixture = 320 + 200

= 520 grams.

Answer 2

Simplifying the ratio given above by dividing both sides by 1/4 will give us,
2: 1 (coriander : cumin)
6 cups of the spice mix is therefore 4 cups coriander and 2 cups of cumin. Multiplying both number of cups by their respective masses will give us the answer of 320 grams coriander and 200 grams cumin.