SOLUTION: Two negative integers are in the ratio 4 to 5. If the larger of the numbers is -40, what is the average of the two numbers?

Question 981763: Two negative integers are in the ratio 4 to 5. If the larger of the numbers is -40, what is the average of the two numbers?
Answer by lmeeks54(111) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
First write down what you know and think about what the question is asking you, then figure it out. Simple, right?
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What we Know:
Both are negative integers
Ratio of the integers is 4 to 5 (= 4/5)
Largest is -40
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What we are to find out:
What is the average of the two integers?
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The part of both being negative is pretty straightforward. Ignore that for now
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Ratio of 4/5
4/5
8/10
16/20
. . .
40/50; these all have the same ratio. So would -40/-50. Of course, that would too easy. -40 is our largest integer, not our smallest
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One easy way to solve these ratio problems is to set up an equality with what you know and then solve for the missing integer by cross-multiplying:
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4 X
--- = ---
5 -40
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(4 x -40) = 5X
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Divide both sides by 5 to solve for X
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(4 x -40)/5 = X
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-160/5 = X
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-32 = X
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Does this make sense?
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Now to solve the final question: the average of the two integers:
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(-40 + -32)/2 = -72/2 = -36
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The answer to the problem is -36
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