Three types of pepper, A, B and C come in containers of 80 g, 120 g and 240 g respectively. Containers of A, B and C are mixed together in the ratio 1 : 3 : 5 to obtain 16.4 kg of an assortment of pepper.

1. How many containers of A and B are used altogether?
2. Find the difference between the combined weight of all the pepper in containers B and containers C as compared to the pepper in containers A. Express the weight in kilograms.

	A	B	C
Number	1 u	3 u	5 u
Value	80	120	240
Total value	80 u	360 u	1200 u

(a)
Total mass of pepper
= 80 u + 360 u + 1200 u
= 1640 u

1640 u = 16400

1 u = 16400 ÷ 1640 = 10

Total number of containers of A and B used
= 1 u + 3 u
= 4 u
= 4 x 10
= 40 

(b)
Combined weight of all the pepper in containers B and containers C
= 360 u + 1200 u
= 1560 u

Difference between the combined weight of all the pepper in containers B and containers C as compared to the pepper in containers A
= 1560 u - 80 u
= 1480 u
= 1480 x 10
= 14800 g
= 14.8 kg 

Answer(s): (a) 40; (b) 14.8 kg