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Two numbers are in a ratio of 4:10. If the sum of the two numbers is 380, what is thesmaller number?Your Answer:

User GroomedGorilla
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1 Answer

15 votes
15 votes

Let's call those numbers "a"(the smaller number) and "b"(the bigger number).

The question is telling us two equations. The ratio is 4:10

a/b = 4/10

And the sum of the two numbers is 380.

a + b = 380

Combining those two equations we have a solvable system.

From the first equation, we get

a/b = 4/10

Multiplying both sides by "b"

a = (4/10) x b

plugging this "a" into the second equation we get:

(4/10) x b + b = 380

[(4/10) + 1] x b = 380

(14/10) x b = 380

Then

b = (10/14) x 380

Calculating the result, we get the bigger number

b = 271

making another substitution on the second equation, now with our new result, we get

a + 271 = 380

a = 109

User Freude
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