Ratios Problem

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Ratios Problem

by MI3 » Sun Jun 19, 2011 9:01 pm
Miguel is mixing up a salad dressing. Regardless of the number of servings, the recipe requires that 5/8 of the finished dressing mix be olive oil, 1/4 vinegar, and the remainder an even mixture of salt, pepper and sugar. If Miguel accidentally doubles the vinegar and forgets the sugar altogether, what proportion of the botched dressing will be olive oil?
A. 15/29
B. 5/8
C. 5/16
D. ½
E. 13/27

IMO - D, am I correct?
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by Frankenstein » Sun Jun 19, 2011 9:08 pm
Hi,
o - 5/8
v - 1/4
s - 1/24
p - 1/24
sugar - 1/24
Total - 1

But he accidentally makes

o - 5/8
v - 1/2
s - 1/24
p - 1/24
Total = (15+12+1+1)/24 = 29/24
So, fraction of olive oil is (5/8)/(29/24) = 15/29

Hence, A
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by MI3 » Sun Jun 19, 2011 9:10 pm
Frankenstein wrote:Hi,
o - 5/8
v - 1/4
s - 1/24
p - 1/24
sugar - 1/24
Total - 1

But he accidentally makes

o - 5/8
v - 1/2
s - 1/24
p - 1/24
Total = (15+12+1+1)/24 = 29/24
So, fraction of olive oil is (5/8)/(29/24) = 15/29

Hence, A
Thank you Frankenstein, but can yo please explain how you came up with the fraction "1/24" for sugar, salt and pepper respy?

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by Frankenstein » Sun Jun 19, 2011 9:16 pm
the recipe requires that 5/8 of the finished dressing mix be olive oil, 1/4 vinegar, and the remainder an even mixture of salt, pepper and sugar.
So, out of 1, 5/8 is olive, 1/4 is vinegar.
So, remaining mixture is 1-(5/8 + 1/4) = 1-7/8 = 1/8
It is even mixture of salt ,pepper and sugar.
So, each fraction is (1/3)*(1/8) = 1/24
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by Surev » Mon Jun 20, 2011 7:18 am
Let the total composition be 240 (We choose 240 because that is the smallest whole number that will provide the breakup in whole numbers not fractions)
Total - 240
Olive Oil - 150
Vinegar - 60
Salt - 10
Pepper - 10
Sugar - 10

In the botched recipe
Olive Oil - 150
Vinegar - 120
Salt - 10
Pepper - 10
Sugar - 0

Total = 290

Ratio of Olive oil = 150/290 = 15/29

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by GMATGuruNY » Mon Jun 20, 2011 7:24 am
MI3 wrote:Miguel is mixing up a salad dressing. Regardless of the number of servings, the recipe requires that 5/8 of the finished dressing mix be olive oil, 1/4 vinegar, and the remainder an even mixture of salt, pepper and sugar. If Miguel accidentally doubles the vinegar and forgets the sugar altogether, what proportion of the botched dressing will be olive oil?
A. 15/29
B. 5/8
C. 5/16
D. ½
E. 13/27

IMO - D, am I correct?
Let total mixture = 24.
Oil = (5/8)*24 = 15.
Vinegar = (1/4)*24 = 6.
Remainder = 24-15-6 = 3.
Since the remainder is divided equally among the salt, the pepper, and the sugar:
Salt = 1, Pepper = 1, Sugar = 1.
Vinegar doubled = 2*6 = 12.
New total without sugar = Oil+Vinegar+Salt+Pepper = 15+12+1+1 = 29.
Oil/Total = 15/29.

The correct answer is A.
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