In February, Roshel and Paul had coins in the ratio 5 : 2. In March, each of them gave away the same number of coins. Roshel then had five times as many coins as Paul.

1. Find the ratio of the number of coins Paul had in February to the number of coins he had in March.
2. Find the ratio of the total number of coins both had in February to the total number of coins both had in March.

	Roshel	Paul	Difference
Before	5x4 = 20 u	2x4 = 8 u	3x4 = 12 u
Change	- 5 u	- 5 u
After	5x3 = 15 u	1x3 = 3 u	4x3 = 12 u

(a)
Since Roshel and Paul gave away the same number of coins, the difference in the number of coins between Roshel and Paul at first and in the end remains the same.

Make the difference in the number of coins at first and in the end the same. LCM of 3 and 4 is 12.

Paul's coins in February : Paul's coins in March
8 : 3

(b)
Total number of coins in February
= 20 u + 8 u
= 28 u

Total number of coins in March
= 15 u + 3 u
= 18 u

Total coins in February : Total coins in March
28 : 18 _(÷2)
14 : 9 

Answer(s): (a) 8 : 3; (b) 14 : 9