A certain bushel of wheat generates one-third the profit of

ardz24 wrote:A certain bushel of wheat generates one-third the profit of a bushel of corn. If a bushel of corn generates five-fourths the profit of a bushel of truffles, what fraction of the profit from a bushel of wheat is the profit from a bushel of truffles?

A. 5/12
B. 4/5
C. 5/4
D. 5/3
E. 12/5

Is there a strategic approach to this question? Can any experts help?

Notice your fractions are 1/3 and 5/4. So let's pick a value for the profit from truffles that's a multiple of the denominators, 4 and 3.

Profit from truffles = 12
Profit from corn = (5/4) * 12 = 15
Profit from wheat = (1/3) * 15 = 5.

Wheat/truffles = 5/12. The answer is A

ardz24 wrote:A certain bushel of wheat generates one-third the profit of a bushel of corn. If a bushel of corn generates five-fourths the profit of a bushel of truffles, what fraction of the profit from a bushel of wheat is the profit from a bushel of truffles?

A. 5/12
B. 4/5
C. 5/4
D. 5/3
E. 12/5

Ratios can be MULTIPLIED.
wheat/truffles = (wheat/corn) * (corn/truffles).
In the equation above, the values in red CANCEL OUT.
Since wheat/corn = 1/3 and corn/truffles = 5/4, we get:
wheat truffles = (1/3)(5/4) = 5/12.

The correct answer is A.

Rewrite the question as an equation:
3W = 1C = 5/4T
Multiply by 4 to remove denominator:
So, 12W = 4C = 5T
So T/W = 5/12.
Answer = A.

BTGmoderatorAT wrote:A certain bushel of wheat generates one-third the profit of a bushel of corn. If a bushel of corn generates five-fourths the profit of a bushel of truffles, what fraction of the profit from a bushel of wheat is the profit from a bushel of truffles?

A. 5/12
B. 4/5
C. 5/4
D. 5/3
E. 12/5

Is there a strategic approach to this question? Can any experts help?

Hi

I believe OA is wrong and even the explanation on the same by above members too is a bit flawed. It happens so because the words 'what fraction of the profit from a bushel of wheat is the profit from a bushel of truffles?' is being read wrongly.

A certain bushel of wheat generates one-third the profit of a bushel of corn. -- Let the profit from corn be x, so profit from wheat = x/3.
If a bushel of corn generates five-fourths the profit of a bushel of truffles, -- Now profit from corn is x, so profit from truffles will be (4x/5).
what fraction of the profit from a bushel of wheat is the profit from a bushel of truffles? OR
read it
Profit from truffles is A of profit from wheat ------- 4x/5=A*x/3.....A=12x/5x=12/5

So answer is E and NOT A...