PSLE Julie had a box of black marbles and red marbles in the ratio 17 : 8. She removed an equal number of black marbles and red marbles from the box. The ratio of the number of black marbles and red marbles left in the box became 9 : 1. What percentage of the marbles were left in the box?
|
Black marbles |
Red marbles |
Difference |
Total |
Before |
17x8 = 136 u |
8x8 = 64 u |
9x8 = 72 u |
25x8 = 200 u |
Change |
- 55 u |
- 55 u |
|
|
After |
9x9 = 81 u |
1x9 = 9 u |
8x9 = 72 u |
10x9 = 90 u |
When Julie removed an equal number of black marbles and red marbles, the difference between the number of black marbles and red marbles at first and in the end remains the same.
LCM of 9 and 8 is 72.
Percentage of the marbles left in the box
=
90200 x 100%
= 920 x 100%
= 45%
Answer: 45%