Every week, Mrs Xavier collected 75% more vitamin pills than Mrs Carl from the pharmacy. They each consumed 21 vitamins weekly and would leave the rest for their family members to consume the rest. After some time, both ladies consumed a total of 588 vitamin pills and Mrs Xavier's family members consumed 378 more vitamin pills than Mrs Carl's family. How many members were there in Mrs Xavier's family, if they each consumed 21 pills weekly? How many vitamin pills did Mrs Carl collect from the pharmacy each week?
(a)
75% + 100% = 175%
175% = ¹⁷⁵₁₀₀ = ⁷₄

Number of pills Mrs. Carl collected in total = 4 u
Number of pills Mrs. Xavier collected in total = 7 u

Total pills eaten per week by Mrs. Carl and Mrs. Xavier
= 21 + 21
= 42

Number of weeks
= 588 ÷ 42
= 14

Difference in the number of pills Mrs. Xavier's family consumed more than Mrs. Carl's family
= 7 u - 4 u
= 3 u

3 u = 378

1 u = 378 ÷ 3 = 126

Number of pills that Mrs. Xavier collected in total
= 7 u
= 7 x 126
= 882

Number of pills that Mrs. Xavier's family consumed per week
= 882 ÷ 14
= 63

Number of members in Mrs. Xavier's family
= 63 ÷ 21
= 3

(b)
Number of pills that Mrs. Carl collected in total
= 4 u
= 4 x 126
= 504

Number of pills that Mrs. Carl collected each week
= 504 ÷ 14
= 36

Answer(s): (a) 3; (b) 36