Question

Xavier, Erik and Remy have just been trick-or-

treating. They received 165 sweets in total. They
decide to share the sweets in the ratio 3:5:7.


How many sweets does Xavier receive?

Answer 1

Xavier receives 33 sweets.

Explanation:

One way of doing this problem involves summing up the digits 3, 5 and 7 to obtain the total 15. Then the number of sweets received by Xavier is

(3/15)(165), where 165 represents a multiplier or common ratio and happens to be the total number of sweets distributed:

(3/15)(165) = 33

Xavier receives 33 sweets, Erik (5/15)(165), or 55, and Remy 77. Note how 33, 55 and 77 add up to 165, the total, and that 33, 55 and 77 are in the ratio 3:5:7