Question

Ms Adams shares out 21 pencils between Niamah and Jack in the ratio 2:5 how many pencils does each child get

Answer 1

niamah : jack

2 : 5

2×3 : 5×3

6 : 15

niamah gets 6 pencils

jack gets 15 pencils

*6+15 = 21

Answer 2

Explanation:

If the ratio of Niamah to Jack is 2:5, that means that for every 2 pencils that N gets, J gets 5. If there are a total of 21 pencils, then

2x + 5x = 21 and

7x = 21 so

x = 3.

That means that N gets 2(3) which is 6, and J gets 5(3) which is 15. Notice that 6:15 is the same ratio as 2:5 when it is reduced.