document.write( "Question 1186883: The ratio of the number of blue sticks to the number of green sticks in a box was
\n" ); document.write( "4:1. When David took out some blue and sticks and replaced them with an equal
\n" ); document.write( "number of green sticks, the ratio of the number of blue sticks to the number of
\n" ); document.write( "green sticks became 3:1. If there were 185 green sticks in the box now,
\n" ); document.write( "(a) find the total number of blue and green sticks in the box,
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Algebra.Com's Answer #820022 by ikleyn(52790)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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\n" ); document.write( "The ratio of the number of blue sticks to the number of green sticks in a box was 4:1.
\n" ); document.write( "When David took out some blue and sticks and replaced them with an equal number of green sticks,
\n" ); document.write( "the ratio of the number of blue sticks to the number of green sticks became 3:1.
\n" ); document.write( "If there were 185 green sticks in the box now,
\n" ); document.write( "(a) find the total number of blue and green sticks in the box,
\n" ); document.write( "(b) find the number of green sticks in the box at first.
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "            This problem is good for mental solution,\r
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document.write( "According to the condition, in the final state, there are 185 green sticks in the box, \r\n" );
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document.write( "and the number of blue sticks is thrice of it, i.e. 185*3 = 555.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Thus the total number of sticks in the final state is  185 + 555 = 740.\r\n" );
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document.write( "    |    Now notice that  total number of sticks in the final state    |\r\n" );
document.write( "    |    is THE SAME as at the beginning, according to the problem.    |\r\n" );
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document.write( "HENCE, there were 740 sticks in the box at the beginning, and the ratio of blue to green sticks was 4:1.\r\n" );
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document.write( "So, there were 4+1 = 5 equal groups; each group contained 740/5 = 148 sticks.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Thus the problem is just solved: at the beginning, there were 148 green sticks and 148*4 = 592 blue sticks.\r\n" );
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document.write( "ANSWER.  There were 148 green sticks and 148*4 = 592 blue sticks in the box at first.\r\n" );
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document.write( "         There were 740 sticks in the box (the same number at the beginning and at the end).\r\n" );
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Solved  mentally,  without using any equation / equations.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "What is written in the post by  @Octo-pie7,  is  IRRELEVANT  to the problem.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So you better ignore it,  for your safety and for peace in your mind.\r
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