PSLE
Linda had a total of 68 red and blue beads. She used 14 red beads and 25% of the blue beads. After that, the ratio of the number of red beads to blue beads Linda had was 5 : 3.

1. What fraction of her blue beads did Linda use? Give your answer in the simplest form.
2. How many beads did Linda have in the end?

	Red beads	Blue beads	Total
Before	5 u + 14	4 u	9 u + 14
Change	- 14	- 1 u
After	5 u	3 u	8 u
Comparing red beads and blue beads in the end	5	3	8

(a)
25% = ²⁵₁₀₀ = ¹₄

Fraction of her blue beads that Linda used = ¹₄

(b)
The number of blue beads in the end is repeated.
Since the numbers are already the same, we do not need to use LCM to make them the same.

Number of blue beads at first = 4 u
Number of red beads at first = 5 u + 14

Total number of beads at first
= 4 u + 5 u + 14
= 9 u + 14

9 u + 14 = 68
9 u = 68 - 14
9 u = 54

1 u = 54 ÷ 9 = 6

Number of blue beads in the end = 3 u
Number of red beads in the end = 5 u

Total number of beads in the end
= 5 u + 3 u
= 8 u
= 8 x 6
= 48

Answer(s): (a)¹₄; (b) 48