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A gold bar is first cut into 2 pieces in the ratio of 2:5 .
The heavier piece is then cut into 2 pieces in the ratio of 5:6.
The difference between the mass of the heaviest piece and lightest piece was 24 grams.
What was the mass of the gold bar before it was cut.
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Let x be the mass of the gold bar before it was cut.
After the first cut we have the pieces of 
and 
masses.
After the second cut, the heavier piece of is disintegrated into the parts of
= 
and 
= 
of mass.
Of three pieces, = 
, and , the heaviest part
is , while the lightest part is .
The difference is - = 
, so
= 24.
It gives x = 
= 3*77 = 231 grams.
ANSWER. The mass of the gold bar was initially 231 grams.
Solved.
