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# The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B

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The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B [#permalink]

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14 Apr 2017, 16:14
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The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B is 2 to 5. In addition, there are twice as many students in Class A as in Class B. If the two classes are combined to form one class, what would the resulting ratio of boys to girls?

A) 1 to 3
B) 5 to 12
C) 8 to 27
D) 6 to 25
E) 13 to 27

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Re: The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B [#permalink]

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14 Apr 2017, 17:00
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We have three ratios:

1) Classroom A -> 1:4 -> potion of Boys = $$1/(1+4)$$ = $$1/5$$
2) Classroom B -> 2:5 -> potion of Boys = $$2/(2+5)$$ = 2/7
3) Classrooms RATIO -> 2:1 -> portion of Class A = 2/3 and portion of Class B = $$1/3$$

I stated the weighted portion of Boys in both classrooms:

Total Portion of Boys
$$2/3*(1/5)+1/3*(2/7)$$
$$= 2/3*(1/5+1/7)$$
$$= 2/3*(12)/35$$
$$= 8/35$$

Total Portion of Girls:

$$1-8/35=27/35$$

So the final ratio is
Portion boys / Portion of girls
8/27
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Re: The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B [#permalink]

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15 Apr 2017, 02:48
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amathews wrote:
The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B is 2 to 5. In addition, there are twice as many students in Class A as in Class B. If the two classes are combined to form one class, what would the resulting ratio of boys to girls?

A) 1 to 3
B) 5 to 12
C) 8 to 27
D) 6 to 25
E) 13 to 27

Similar question to practice: https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-ratio-of ... 92242.html
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Re: The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B [#permalink]

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16 Apr 2017, 08:06
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amathews wrote:
The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B is 2 to 5. In addition, there are twice as many students in Class A as in Class B. If the two classes are combined to form one class, what would the resulting ratio of boys to girls?

A) 1 to 3
B) 5 to 12
C) 8 to 27
D) 6 to 25
E) 13 to 27

Let's use weighted averages.

Weighted average of groups combined = (group A proportion)(group A average) + (group B proportion)(group B average) + (group C proportion)(group C average) + ...

So, in this case, Weighted average of combined classes = (Class A proportion)(Class A average) + (Class B proportion)(Class B average)

CLASS A:
Ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4
So, for every 5 students, we have 1 boy and 4 girls.
In other words, 1/5 of the students are boys.
So, we can say the class A average is 1/5 boys

CLASS B:
Ratio of boys to girls in Class B is 2 to 5
So, for every 7 students, we have 2 boys and 5 girls.
In other words, 2/7 of the students are boys.
So, we can say the class B average is 2/7 boys

There are twice as many students in Class A as in Class B.
So, for every 3 students in the COMBINED group, there are 2 students from Class A, and 1 student from Class B
In others words, Class A students comprise 2/3 of the COMBINED group, and Class B students comprise 1/3 of the COMBINED group

Now plug these values into our formula to get:
Weighted average of combined classes = (2/3)(1/5) + (1/3)(2/7)
= 2/15 + 2/21
= 14/105 + 10/105
= 24/105
= 8/35

So, in the combined group, 8/35 of the students are boys, which means 27/35 of the students are girls.
In other words, among every 35 students in the combined group, 8 are boys and 27 are girls.
So, the ratio of boys to girls = 8 to 27

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Re: The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B [#permalink]

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16 Apr 2017, 22:23
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amathews wrote:
The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B is 2 to 5. In addition, there are twice as many students in Class A as in Class B. If the two classes are combined to form one class, what would the resulting ratio of boys to girls?

A) 1 to 3
B) 5 to 12
C) 8 to 27
D) 6 to 25
E) 13 to 27

There are several ways to do it. Let me discuss two of them.

Method 1:

• The ratio of the number of boys to girls in Class A is 1 : 4

o Therefore, we can say that the total number of students in Class A = 5x

• The ratio of the number of boys to girls in Class B is 2 : 5

o Therefore, we can say that the total number of students in Class B = 7y

• As per the given condition:

o $$5x = 2*7y$$
o $$\frac{x}{y} = \frac{14}{5}$$
o Take x = 14 and y = 5

• Thus, the combined Boys to Girls Ratio would be

$$= \frac{(x + 2y)}{(4x + 5y)}$$
$$= \frac{(14 + 10)}{(56+25)}$$
$$= \frac{24}{81}$$
$$= \frac{8}{27}$$

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Re: The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B [#permalink]

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16 Apr 2017, 22:32
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Method 2:

Use the simple concept of weighted average to get the answer.

• The ratio of the number of boys to girls in Class A is 1 : 4
o Number of boys will be $$\frac{1}{(1+4)} = \frac{1}{5}th$$ of total
o Number of girls will be $$\frac{4}{(1+4)} = \frac{4}{5}th$$ of total

• The ratio of the number of boys to girls in Class B is 2 : 5
o Number of boys will be $$\frac{2}{(2+5)} = \frac{2}{7}th$$ of total
o Number of girls will be $$\frac{5}{(2+5)} = \frac{5}{7}th$$ of total

• Ratio of class A : Class B = 2 : 1

Thus weighted average = (Number of boys in Class A + Class B) / (Number of Girls in Class A + Class B)
= $$(2 * \frac{1}{5} + 1 * \frac{2}{7})/(2*\frac{4}{5} + 1 * \frac{5}{7})$$
= $$\frac{24}{35}/\frac{81}{35}$$
= $$\frac{8}{27}$$

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Re: The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B [#permalink]

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19 Apr 2017, 14:24
Another way of solving this. I believe this way is faster.

Class A: ratio a:4a and total student 5a ------------- Class B: ratio 2b:5b and total student 7b

as per question stem, 5a=2*(7b)

Ratio of the new class is (a+2b):(4a+5b)
which same ratio as (5a+10b):(20a+25b)
substitution leads to ratio 24b:81b or 24:81
Hence 8:27

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Re: The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B [#permalink]

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19 Apr 2017, 14:25
Another way of solving this. I believe this way is faster.

Class A: ratio a:4a and total student 5a ------------- Class B: ratio 2b:5b and total student 7b

as per question stem, 5a=2*(7b)

Ratio of the new class is (a+2b):(4a+5b)
which same ratio as (5a+10b):(20a+25b)
substitution leads to ratio 24b:81b or 24:81
Hence 8:27

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Re: The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B [#permalink]

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24 May 2017, 07:21
Not sure if my approach is easier or harder but I used the LCM method. I find it helps simplify a lot of questions.

1:4 = 5
2:5 = 7

5 & 7 LCM = 35. Since A is twice as much as B. then A must be 70 and B = 35. (even if its 140 & 70, the ratio will be same).

A= 14 boys, 56 girls.
B= 10 boys, 25 girls.

24 boys : 81 girls divide by 3... = 8:27.
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Re: The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B [#permalink]

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13 Dec 2017, 17:23
amathews wrote:
The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B is 2 to 5. In addition, there are twice as many students in Class A as in Class B. If the two classes are combined to form one class, what would the resulting ratio of boys to girls?

A) 1 to 3
B) 5 to 12
C) 8 to 27
D) 6 to 25
E) 13 to 27

We are given that the ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4 and that the ratio in Class B is 2 to 5.

The ratio of boys to girls in class A = x : 4x

The ratio of boys to girls in class B = 2y : 5y

Since there are twice as many students in class A as in class B, we can create the following equation:

x + 4x = 2(2y + 5y)

5x = 14y

x = 14y/5

From the two earlier ratios, we see that the total number of boys in the combined class is (x + 2y) and the total number of girls in the combined class is (4x + 5y). Thus, the ratio of boys to girls in the combined class will be (x + 2y)/(4x + 5y). Substituting 14y/5 for x, we have:

(14y/5 + 2y)/(56y/5 + 5y) = (24y/5)/(81y/5) = 24/81 = 8/27.

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Re: The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B [#permalink]

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15 Dec 2017, 14:07
amathews wrote:
The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B is 2 to 5. In addition, there are twice as many students in Class A as in Class B. If the two classes are combined to form one class, what would the resulting ratio of boys to girls?

A) 1 to 3
B) 5 to 12
C) 8 to 27
D) 6 to 25
E) 13 to 27

let A and B=number of students in each class
x=ratio of boys to total students
A=2B
substituting, 2B/5+2B/7=3B*x➡
2/5+2/7=3x
x=8/35=ratio of boys to total students
8/(35-8)=8/27=ratio of boys to girls
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Re: The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B [#permalink]

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17 Dec 2017, 02:50
Is there a way to do this sum through Alligation?
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Re: The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B [#permalink]

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13 Jan 2018, 17:13
Hi All,

This question can be solved by TESTing VALUES. Before choose your values though, you have to note the ratios involved:

1) Class A has a ratio of boys:girls = 1:4. This means that there are 4 girls for every 1 boy (and that the total number of girls MUST be a multiple of 4 and the total number of students MUST be a multiple of 5).
2) Class B has a ratio of boys:girls = 2:5. This means that there are 5 girls for every 2 boys (and that the total number of boys MUST be a multiple of 2, the total number of girls MUST be a multiple of 5 and the total number of students MUST be a multiple of 7).

We're told that the total number of students in Class A is TWICE the total number of students in Class B. Thus, we need to TEST a multiple of 5 that is exactly TWICE a multiple of 7...

Let's TEST
Class A = 70 students (14 boys and 56 girls)
Class B = 35 students (10 boys and 25 girls)

By combining these two classes, we'll end up with 24 boys and 81 girls, giving us a ratio of 24:81. Since 24 and 81 are both multiples of 3, we can reduce this ratio to... 8:27

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Re: The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B [#permalink]

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19 Feb 2018, 03:21
Let total number of students in Class A be 2x. Total number of students in Class B is x.
Class A girls to boys -> 1:4
Class B girls to boys -> 2:5
Therefore,
Total number of boys: 1/5(2x) + 2/7(x) = 24x/35
Total number of girls: 4/5(2x) + 5/7(x) = 81x/35

Hence, total boys: girls-> 24:81 -> 8:27
Re: The ratio of boys to girls in Class A is 1 to 4, and that in Class B   [#permalink] 19 Feb 2018, 03:21
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