Question

There are 165 counters in a bag. Each counter is either black or white.

There are twice as many black counters as white counters in the bag. Martine takes 40% of the black counters from the bag.

Work out the ratio of the number of black counters to the number of white counters now in the bag.
Give your ratio in its simplest form.

Answer 1

6:5

• there are 165 counters in the bag.

let the white counter be x

• the black counter = 2x

2x + x = 165

• 3x=165

divide both sides by 3

• x=55

there are 55 white counters in the bag

165-55=110

OR

2x= 165

divide both sides by 2

x= 110

• there are 110 black counters in the bag
• Martine takes 40%of the black counter

40%= 40/100×110

= 44.

• 44 black counters was taken out of the bag
• then there would be 66 black counters left I.e(110-44=66)

▪︎ there would be 66 black and 55 white counters in the bag.

• ratio of black counters to the white counter = 66:55
• reduced to the lowest term = 6:5 ( 11 divides 66 and 55 Into 6 and 5)

• the answer is 6:5