In February, Xandra and Bryan had erasers in the ratio 2 : 1. In March, each of them gave away the same number of erasers. Xandra then had five times as many erasers as Bryan.

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

	Xandra	Bryan	Difference
Before	2x4 = 8 u	1x4 = 4 u	1x4 = 4 u
Change	- 3 u	- 3 u
After	5x1 = 5 u	1x1 = 1 u	4x1 = 4 u

(a)
Since Xandra and Bryan gave away the same number of erasers, the difference in the number of erasers between Xandra and Bryan at first and in the end remains the same.

Make the difference in the number of erasers at first and in the end the same. LCM of 1 and 4 is 4.

Bryan's erasers in February : Bryan's erasers in March
4 : 1

(b)
Total number of erasers in February
= 8 u + 4 u
= 12 u

Total number of erasers in March
= 5 u + 1 u
= 6 u

Total erasers in February : Total erasers in March
12 : 6 _(÷6)
2 : 1 

Answer(s): (a) 4 : 1; (b) 2 : 1