Thread: challenging ratio question

Dear sir,
I would be most grateful if someone can help me to solve the below question.
Thanks

There are 42 fruits in each of the 2 boxes, box A and box B. The ratio of the number of apples in box A to the number of apples in box B was 3:4. The ratio of the number of oranges in box A to the number of oranges in box B was 4:3. There were 56 apples altogether in both boxes. What is the ratio of the apples in box A to the number of oranges in box B?

Originally Posted by kingman

Dear sir,
I would be most grateful if someone can help me to solve the below question.
Thanks

There are 42 fruits in each of the 2 boxes, box A and box B. The ratio of the number of apples in box A to the number of apples in box B was 3:4. The ratio of the number of oranges in box A to the number of oranges in box B was 4:3. There were 56 apples altogether in both boxes. What is the ratio of the apples in box A to the number of oranges in box B?

1. Let x denote the number of apples in box A and y the number of apples in box B. Then the number of oranges in A is 42-x and in B 42-y.

2. You'll get a system of equations:



3. Solve for x and y. Afterwards determine the ration .

By the way: Are you sure that the wording of the question is correct?

Thanls for the reply but I cannot read any equation on the solution and the answer is 1:1