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Tough Ratio Question

Expert replies
by srfn » Sun Aug 10, 2014 6:17 pm
The ratio of boarders to day scholars at a school is 7 to 16. However, after a few new students join the initial 560 boarders, the ratio changed to 1 to 2, respectively. If no boarders became day scholars and vice versa, and no students left the school, how many boarders joined the school?

A) 48

B) 64

C) 70

D) 80

E) 84

Can't figure this one out. Can someone help explain? Many thanks.
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Source: — Problem Solving |

by GMATGuruNY » Sun Aug 10, 2014 8:34 pm
srfn wrote:The ratio of boarders to day scholars at a school is 7 to 16. However, after a few new students join the initial 560 boarders, the ratio changed to 1 to 2, respectively. If no boarders became day scholars and vice versa, and no students left the school, how many boarders joined the school?

A) 48

B) 64

C) 70

D) 80

E) 84
Let b = borders and d = day scholars.

Original ratio:
Here, b/d = 7/16.
Since the actual value of b is 560, and 7*80 = 560, the multiplier for the ratio is 80:
b/d = (80*7)/(80*16) = 560/1280.
Thus:
b=560, d=1280, total number of students = 560+1280 = 1840.

New ratio:
Here, b/d = 1/2.
Thus, of every 3 students, 1 is a boarder and 2 are day scholars, implying that the 1280 day scholars must be equal to 2/3 of the new total:
1280 = (2/3)x
x = 1920.
Thus, after the new boarders join the school, the new total number of students = 1920.

Thus:
New boarders = (new total) - (old total) = 1920 - 1840 = 80.

The correct answer is D.
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by [email protected] » Sun Aug 10, 2014 11:01 pm
Hi srfn,

This is actually a mid-level ratio question, since you're given so much information to work with. You can also do the "ratio math" in a variety of different ways.

The ratio of Boarders to Day-scholars is 7:16 and we're told that there are 560 boarders. This means....

B : D
7 : 16
560 : 1280

We're told that new boarders enter the school; this changes the ratio to...

B : D
1 : 2

Since the number of Day-scholars is "locked" at 1280, we just need to add Boarders until we get to half of 1280...

560 + X = 640
X = 80

Final Answer: D

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by GMATinsight » Mon Aug 11, 2014 8:52 am
srfn wrote:The ratio of boarders to day scholars at a school is 7 to 16. However, after a few new students join the initial 560 boarders, the ratio changed to 1 to 2, respectively. If no boarders became day scholars and vice versa, and no students left the school, how many boarders joined the school?

A) 48

B) 64

C) 70

D) 80

E) 84

Can't figure this one out. Can someone help explain? Many thanks.
Ratio of boarders to day scholars at a school is 7 to 16
i.e. If Boarders = 7X
Then, Day Scholars = 16X
But 7X = 560
i.e. X = 80
therefore, 16X = 1080
i.e. If Boarders = 560
Then, Day Scholars = 1280


Now, B : D = 1 : 2
i.e. If Boarders = Y
then Day Scholars = 2Y = 1280 [This remains constant]
therefore Y = 640


Increase in Boarders = 640 - 560 = 80

Answer: Option D
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by srfn » Mon Aug 11, 2014 11:00 am
Guys - thanks so much for the help. I actually misread the question, and tried to solve it based on that misunderstanding for about a half hour :shock:. Thanks for clearing it up, hopefully this question and explanation will be useful to some.
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by shrivats » Wed Aug 13, 2014 7:54 pm
This can be solved without any calculations with just mental maths.

the initial ratio of boarders to day scholars is 7:16 and no.of boarders is 560

to make it 7:16 to 1/2 is same as making 7:16 to 8:16. so 560=7*x, x=80, we need to make it 8*x=640
640-560=80
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by j_shreyans » Wed Aug 13, 2014 11:35 pm
Let Border = B
Day scholars = DS

So the equation is :

560/DS = 7/16

DS = 1280

Let additional will be x , so

560+x/1280=1/2

1120+2x = 1280

2x=160

x=80

Regards
shreyans
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