Every week, Mrs Eric collected 75% more vitamin pills than Mrs Luke 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 840 vitamin pills and Mrs Eric's family members consumed 540 more vitamin pills than Mrs Luke's family. How many members were there in Mrs Eric's family, if they each consumed 21 pills weekly? How many vitamin pills did Mrs Luke collect from the pharmacy each week?
(a)
75% + 100% = 175%
175% = ¹⁷⁵₁₀₀ = ⁷₄

Number of pills Mrs. Luke collected in total = 4 u
Number of pills Mrs. Eric collected in total = 7 u

Total pills eaten per week by Mrs. Luke and Mrs. Eric
= 21 + 21
= 42

Number of weeks
= 840 ÷ 42
= 20

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

3 u = 540

1 u = 540 ÷ 3 = 180

Number of pills that Mrs. Eric collected in total
= 7 u
= 7 x 180
= 1260

Number of pills that Mrs. Eric's family consumed per week
= 1260 ÷ 20
= 63

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

(b)
Number of pills that Mrs. Luke collected in total
= 4 u
= 4 x 180
= 720

Number of pills that Mrs. Luke collected each week
= 720 ÷ 20
= 36

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