PSLE
A box contained pink and blue beads. At first, the number of pink beads was ¹₅ the number of blue beads. After ¹₄ of the pink beads and ¹₈ of the blue beads were used, 410 beads were left.

1. What fraction of the beads were used? Leave your answer in the simplest form.
2. How many beads were there in the box at first?

	Pink	Blue
Comparing pink beads and blue beads at first	1x8 = 8 u	5x8 = 40 u
Before	4x2 = 8 u	8x5 = 40 u
Change	- 1x2 =  - 2 u	- 1x5 = - 5 u
After	3x2 =  6 u	7x5 = 35 u

(a)
The number of blue beads at first is repeated. Make the number of blue beads at first the same. LCM of 5 and 8 is 40.

The number of pink beads at first is repeated.

Since the number of pink beads at first is 8 u, we make the total number of pink beads at first the same by multiplying 4 by 2 to become 8 u too.

Fraction of the beads used
= ^{2 + 5}_{8 + 40} 
= ⁷₄₈

(b)
Number of beads left
= 6 u + 35 u
= 41 u

41 u = 410

1 u = 410 ÷ 41 = 10

Number of beads at first
= 48 u
= 48 x 10
= 480

Answer(s): (a) ⁷₄₈; (b) 480