In February, Elyse and Dylan had stickers in the ratio 3 : 2. In March, each of them gave away the same number of stickers. Elyse then had five times as many stickers as Dylan.

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

	Elyse	Dylan	Difference
Before	3x4 = 12 u	2x4 = 8 u	1x4 = 4 u
Change	- 7 u	- 7 u
After	5x1 = 5 u	1x1 = 1 u	4x1 = 4 u

(a)
Since Elyse and Dylan gave away the same number of stickers, the difference in the number of stickers between Elyse and Dylan at first and in the end remains the same.

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

Dylan's stickers in February : Dylan's stickers in March
8 : 1

(b)
Total number of stickers in February
= 12 u + 8 u
= 20 u

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

Total stickers in February : Total stickers in March
20 : 6 _(÷2)
10 : 3 

Answer(s): (a) 8 : 1; (b) 10 : 3