A bag contained white, yellow and red markers. ²₅ of the markers were white and ⁴₉ of the remainder were yellow markers.The rest were red markers.

1. Find the ratio of the number of red markers to the number of white markers.
2. There were 154 fewer yellow markers than white markers. How many markers were there in the bag?

White markers	Yellow markers	Red markers
2x3	3x3
	4x1	5x1
6 u	4 u	5 u

(a)
Fraction of white markers = ²₅
Fraction of markers that are not white = 1 - ²₅ = ³₅

Remaining fraction of yellow markers = ⁴₉
Remaining fraction of red markers = 1 - ⁴₉ = ⁵₉

The total number of yellow markers and red markers is the repeated identity.
Make the repeated identity the same by using LCM.
LCM of 3 and 9 = 9

Red markers : White markers
5 : 6

(b)
Difference in the number of white markers and yellow markers
= 6 u - 4 u
= 2 u

2 u = 154
1 u = 154 ÷ 2 = 77

Total number of markers
= 6 u + 4 u + 5 u
= 15 u
= 15 x 77
= 1155

Answer(s): (a) 5 : 6; (b) 1155