Food Rations

Algebra Level 2

During a food shortage crisis a rationing system is put into place to ensure the maximum amount of people get enough calories to survive.

One of the rules of the system is that people over 18 years old only get 60% as much food as people under 18 years old get. (since younger people need more calories because their bodies are still growing)

You get a shipment of food that is to be given to a group comprised of 20 people over 18 and 20 people under 18. In other words an equal amount of people under and over 18.

What percentage of the food do you give to the people over 18?

62.5 40 60 37.5

2 solutions

Aarush Kumbhakern
Mar 3, 2016

the easiest way to figure this out (because of the options is that: Since the people < 18 get only 60% of the food < 18's get, it cannot be more than 50%, cancelling 62.5% and 60%. You're left with 40 and 37.5. It cannot be 40, as 40 is not 60% of the remaining 60, and we are left with 37.5

Martin Hellmich
Jul 26, 2015

The amount of food for older and younger is at a ratio of 60:100 that can be represented as fractions out of a total of 160:

$\frac{60}{160}$ and $\frac{100}{160}$

which can be converted to decimals:

0.375 and 0.625

and to percent:

37.5% and 62.5%

You can check that 37.5 is 60% of 62.5.

That is the percentage you give to people over 18. The question asks how much you give to people over 20.

Chels Sandy - 5 years, 10 months ago

Thanks! fixed it :)

Martin Hellmich - 5 years, 10 months ago

Food Rations

2 solutions

0 pending reports