In March, Sarah and Andy had coins in the ratio 8 : 7. In April, each of them gave away the same number of coins. Sarah then had five times as many coins as Andy.

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

	Sarah	Andy	Difference
Before	8x4 = 32 u	7x4 = 28 u	1x4 = 4 u
Change	- 27 u	- 27 u
After	5x1 = 5 u	1x1 = 1 u	4x1 = 4 u

(a)
Since Sarah and Andy gave away the same number of coins, the difference in the number of coins between Sarah and Andy 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 1 and 4 is 4.

Andy's coins in March : Andy's coins in April
28 : 1

(b)
Total number of coins in March
= 32 u + 28 u
= 60 u

Total number of coins in April
= 5 u + 1 u
= 6 u

Total coins in March : Total coins in April
60 : 6 _(÷6)
10 : 1 

Answer(s): (a) 28 : 1; (b) 10 : 1