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Bunuel
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1. The question asks us to find a possible combination of the cookies eaten by the son and by the other family members.

2. Since, there doesn't seem to be enough information to figure out exactly the values, we're interested in the ratio between Son and Others.

3. Let the number of cookies eaten by each of the other family members be equal to x. This means the number of cookies left for dinner was 5x.

4. 5x is only \(\frac{4}{5}\) of the initial amount of cookies since the son ate an extra \(\frac{1}{5}\) or \(\frac{1}{4} * 5x = \frac{5x}{4}\) cookies. That means the son ate a total of \(x + \frac{5x}{4} = \frac{9x}{4}\) cookies.

5. The ratio between Son and Others is \(\frac{\frac{9x}{4}}{x} = \frac{9}{4}\). The only answer choices that have this ratio are 27 and 12.

6. Our answer will be: Son - 27 and Others - 12.
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i dont get it . the son first divided into 5 parts meaning x/5 here x meaning total cookies. then his share would be x/25 and family share 4x/25 making ans 4 and 30 could any expert help


Bunuel KarishmaB
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i dont get it . the son first divided into 5 parts meaning x/5 here x meaning total cookies. then his share would be x/25 and family share 4x/25 making ans 4 and 30 could any expert help


Bunuel KarishmaB

Have you missed the solutions above?

The first son receives x/5, leaving 4x/5 remaining.

Next, 4x/5 is further divided into 5 parts, so the son will additionally receive 4x/25, and each of the other family members will also get 4x/25.

Thus, the son’s total share is:

x/5 + 4x/25 = 9x/25

The ratio of the son's share to each of the other family members' shares is:

(9x/25) : (4x/25) = 9:4
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let's not use any eqns & try to solve using mental math

1. Cookies are divided equally among 5 members so cookies are a multiple of 5
2. Son ate his cookies share & cookies were divided again, so even after deducting son share cookies are multiple of 5
3. Now, all other 4 members have given equal share to son, basically share given is multiple of 4(4x) & share given is equal to the amount that all 5 members have now
4. Cookies eaten by each other member is multiple of 4 & becomes a multiple of 5 if we consider son share also
5. There are 2 options which are multiple of 4, option 4 & 12. for 5 persons( 4*4 +5, 12*4+12), both options are multiple of 5 if we consider 5 person
6. Although checking the options being multiple of 4 & 5 was an un necessary step, still I did
7. Now, difference between cookies eaten by son to cookies eaten by each other member will be a multiple of 5, coz when you are deducting the total cookies eaten by son to cookies eaten by each member, you are arriving to a value when son has eaten the cookies at the first time & it will be a multiple of 5 because even after reducing son share which he had eaten, the cookies were divided equally among 5 members which means that the cookies eaten by son at the first time was a multiple of 5 , only the multiple of 5 can be reduced from higher multiple of 5 to get a number which is multiple of
8. So there is no option which which gives difference a multiple of 5 if we reduced 4 from it, but for 12 there is an option 27, 27-12 = multiple of 5

IMO 12 cookies eaten by each member & 27 by Son
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