document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1204074>Question 1204074</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Given that A:B = 2:3, B:C=3:1, C:D=4:5, D:E = 2:1 and A+B+C+D+E = 18900. What is the value of E? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #840102 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13200)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=greenestamps><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=840102\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "All the cross multiplying in the solution from the other tutor seems like far more work than is necessary to solve the problem.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "It seems to me the easiest way to solve the problem is to combine the given ratios into a single ratio comparing all 5 quantities, scaling the ratio up where necessary to keep the ratio in whole numbers.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "A:B = 2:3 and B:C = 3:1 gives us<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "A:B:C = 2:3:1 [1]<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "C:D = 4:5, so scale [1] up to make C=4:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "A:B:C = 8:12:4<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Then A:B:C = 8:12:4 and C:D = 4:5 gives us<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "A:B:C:D = 8:12:4:5 [2]<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "D:E = 2:1; scale both this and [2] up to where D is a whole number in both ratios:<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "A:B:C:D = 16:24:8:10 and D:E = 10:5 gives us<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "A:B:C:D:E = 16:24:8:10:5 [3]<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Now we have a single ratio statement relating all 5 numbers, so we can solve the problem knowing that the sum of the five numbers is 18900.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Using the extended ratios we have found...<BR>\n" );
document.write( "A = 16x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "B = 24x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "C = 8x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "D = 10x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "E = 5x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "A+B+C+D+E = 16x+24x+8x+10x+5x = 63x = 18900<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 18900/63 = 300<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "ANSWER: E = 5x = 5(300) = 1500<r><BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );