SOLUTION: Hi 1/2 of the sweets in box A were equivalent to 3/8 of the sweets in box B. 240 sweets from box B were taken out and box A then had 3 times as many sweets as box B. What was t

Question 1169064: Hi
1/2 of the sweets in box A were equivalent to 3/8 of the sweets in box B. 240 sweets from box B were taken out and box A then had 3 times as many sweets as box B.
What was the total number of sweets in both boxes at first.

Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let a = original number in box A
let b = original number in box b
:
1/2 of the sweets in box A were equivalent to 3/8 of the sweets in box B.
*a = *b
multiply both sides by 2
a = *b
which is
a = .75b
:
240 sweets from box B were taken out and box A then had 3 times as many sweets as box B.
a = 3(b-240)
a = 3b - 720
replace a with .75b
.75b = 3b - 720
720 = 3b - .75b
720 = 2.25b
b = 720/2.25
b = 320 sweets originally in B
then
a = .75(320)
a = 240 sweets in A originally
:
:
Check in the 1st equation
*240 = *320
120 = 120

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