PSLE Zoe had a bag of gold balls and grey balls in the ratio 17 : 8. She removed an equal number of gold balls and grey balls from the bag. The ratio of the number of gold balls and grey balls left in the bag became 3 : 1. What percentage of the balls were left in the bag?
|
Gold balls |
Grey balls |
Difference |
Total |
Before |
17x2 = 34 u |
8x2 = 16 u |
9x2 = 18 u |
25x2 = 50 u |
Change |
- 7 u |
- 7 u |
|
|
After |
3x9 = 27 u |
1x9 = 9 u |
2x9 = 18 u |
4x9 = 36 u |
When Zoe removed an equal number of gold balls and grey balls, the difference between the number of gold balls and grey balls at first and in the end remains the same.
LCM of 9 and 2 is 18.
Percentage of the balls left in the bag
=
3650 x 100%
= 1825 x 100%
= 72%
Answer: 72%