Question

The ratio to pens and pencils in a box is 3 to 5. If there are 96 pens and pencils in the box altogether ,how many more pens should be put in the box to make the ratio of pens to pencils 1:1?

Answer 1

3x + 5x = 96

8x = 96, so x = 12

There are currently 3(12) = 36 pens and 5(12) = 60 pencils in the box, so 60 - 36 = 24 more pens should be put in the box.