shades

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shades

by hakyology » Tue Aug 05, 2008 9:57 am
A certain shade of gray paint is obtained by mixing 3 parts of white paint with 5 parts of black paint. 12 gallons of the mixture is needed and the individual colors can be purchased only in one-gallon or half-gallon cans, what is the least amount of paint, in gallons, that must be purchased in order to measure out the portions needed for the mixture?
a)2
b)2 and a half
c)3
d)3 and a half
e)4


the answer is b
please explain. thanks.
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??

by hakyology » Tue Aug 05, 2008 10:32 am
so... no one knows??

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by Travis_1234567890 » Tue Aug 05, 2008 11:17 am
I get 4.0 (edit)

Not sure how the answer could be 2.5 – that would violate the constraints (paint must be purchased in whole and half gallon increments)


Would be interested in seeing a different opinion-

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Re: shades

by Ian Stewart » Tue Aug 05, 2008 2:54 pm
hakyology wrote:A certain shade of gray paint is obtained by mixing 3 parts of white paint with 5 parts of black paint. 12 gallons of the mixture is needed and the individual colors can be purchased only in one-gallon or half-gallon cans, what is the least amount of paint, in gallons, that must be purchased in order to measure out the portions needed for the mixture?
a)2
b)2 and a half
c)3
d)3 and a half
e)4


the answer is b
please explain. thanks.
Something is missing- how can we make 12 gallons of paint if we only purchase, at most, 4 gallons of paint? Are the answers supposed to be 12, 12 and a half, 13, etc?

edit- I can see where Travis is coming from; if you need an amount that can be divided into eight parts, in half-gallon increments, then 4 is the only reasonable answer choice. Still, this question doesn't make any sense.