The ratio of two numbers is 7:4. If 8 is subtracted from the larger and 3 from the smaller, the new ratio will be 5:3. Find the smaller of the original numbers
We let the first number be 7x, this would make the second 4x so: 7x - 8: 4x - 3 = 5 : 3 7x - 8 = 5 4x - 3 3 We cross-multiply: 21x - 24 = 20x - 15 21x - 20x = -15 + 24 x = 9
Therefore the smaller of the original numbers is 4x = 36
