Question

Mr James gives £500 to his children Ally,

Barry and Cat in the ratio 2:3:5.
How much do they each receive?

Answer 1

Answers:

• Ally gets 100 pounds
• Barry gets 150 pounds
• Cat gets 250 pounds

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Work Shown:

x = some positive real number

2x = amount Ally gets

3x = amount Barry gets

5x = amount Cat gets

Note that the ratio 2x:3x:5x reduces to 2:3:5 after dividing all parts by x.

Add up the parts and you should get a sum of 500 pounds. Solve for x.

2x+3x+5x = 500

10x = 500

x = 500/10

x = 50

Based on that x value, we then can say:

• 2x = 2*50 = 100 pounds is what Ally gets
• 3x = 3*50 = 150 pounds is what Barry gets
• 5x = 5*50 = 250 pounds is what Cat gets

As a check, 100+150+250 = 500.

Also, note that the ratio 100:150:250 fully reduces to 2:3:5 after dividing all parts by the GCF 50.

Those two facts help confirm our answers.