Apples & Oranges Question

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Apples & Oranges Question

by zico20 » Sat Jun 13, 2009 1:55 am
Hey guys,

Can someone help me out with this question please? Thank you very much

The contents of a certain box contains 14 apples and 23 oranges. How many oranges must be removed from the box so that 70% of the remaining number of fruit is apples?

A. 3
B. 6
C. 14
D. 17
E. 20

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by ssmiles08 » Sat Jun 13, 2009 8:24 am
apples::oranges = 14:23


14 :: 23
14 :: 23-x ---> subtracting x number of oranges

7 :: 3 ----> new ratio (70% apples and 30% oranges)

14/(23-x) = 7/3

42 = 161-7x

x = 17

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by zico20 » Sat Jun 13, 2009 8:42 am
Thank you.

God bless.

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another way

by uzbek » Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:34 pm
The solution above is great, and also maybe this solution could help you.
14 is 70% of 20
so you have to remove 17 oranges, since you had 37 total...
p.s.
it only works cause you are not removing any Apples.
hope it helps

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Re: Apples & Oranges Question

by Vemuri » Sun Jun 14, 2009 3:21 am
Another approach to solving this problem is:

Apples + Oranges = Total fruits
14+23 = 37 fruits.

70%(14+(23-x)) = 14
==> 0.7(37-x) = 14
==> 7x = 119
==> x=17

Hope this helps.