Princeton CAT1
Josh and Marcia bought a number of chairs at an auction. The average price of the chairs Marcia purchased was $50, and the average price of the chairs Josh purchased was $62. If the average price of all the chairs purchased was $53, what was the ratio of the number of chairs purchased by Marcia to the number purchased by josh?
A-1:1
B-1:2
C-1:3
D-3:1
E-2:1
answer D. I got it right using backsolving. Can someone help me to solve with algebra????
my approach:
since the average was $53, we can eliminate A,B and C, because Marcia should have purchased more chairs than Josh.
backsolving...
3:1 ratio = 4 chairs
so, 3*50 + 62 = 212 for 4 chairs, which averages 212/4=53
Josh and Marcia bought a number of chairs at an auction. The average price of the chairs Marcia purchased was $50, and the average price of the chairs Josh purchased was $62. If the average price of all the chairs purchased was $53, what was the ratio of the number of chairs purchased by Marcia to the number purchased by josh?
A-1:1
B-1:2
C-1:3
D-3:1
E-2:1
answer D. I got it right using backsolving. Can someone help me to solve with algebra????
my approach:
since the average was $53, we can eliminate A,B and C, because Marcia should have purchased more chairs than Josh.
backsolving...
3:1 ratio = 4 chairs
so, 3*50 + 62 = 212 for 4 chairs, which averages 212/4=53
