Every week, Mrs Riordan collected 75% more vitamin pills than Mrs Valen 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 336 vitamin pills and Mrs Riordan's family members consumed 432 more vitamin pills than Mrs Valen's family. How many members were there in Mrs Riordan's family, if they each consumed 21 pills weekly? How many vitamin pills did Mrs Valen collect from the pharmacy each week?
(a)
75% + 100% = 175%
175% = ¹⁷⁵₁₀₀ = ⁷₄

Number of pills Mrs. Valen collected in total = 4 u
Number of pills Mrs. Riordan collected in total = 7 u

Total pills eaten per week by Mrs. Valen and Mrs. Riordan
= 21 + 21
= 42

Number of weeks
= 336 ÷ 42
= 8

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

3 u = 432

1 u = 432 ÷ 3 = 144

Number of pills that Mrs. Riordan collected in total
= 7 u
= 7 x 144
= 1008

Number of pills that Mrs. Riordan's family consumed per week
= 1008 ÷ 8
= 126

Number of members in Mrs. Riordan's family
= 126 ÷ 21
= 6

(b)
Number of pills that Mrs. Valen collected in total
= 4 u
= 4 x 144
= 576

Number of pills that Mrs. Valen collected each week
= 576 ÷ 8
= 72

Answer(s): (a) 6; (b) 72