SOLUTION: I have two questions. I find it hard to work out what part of the problem represents what part in the equation. I can work out the answers in a very slow way but there has to be a

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Question 799651: I have two questions. I find it hard to work out what part of the problem represents what part in the equation. I can work out the answers in a very slow way but there has to be a quicker way!
4 out of every 5 roses are in flower. If 10 are not in flower, how many roses are there all together? answer 50
A coffee shop offers its regular customers "get every 6th cup of coffee free". if a coffee costs $4 and Jan has a coffee each day monday to friday for 4 weeks, how much will she spend? answer 68

Answer by josgarithmetic(39620) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The roses question:

Five roses.
If 4 roses are in flower, then 1 rose is NOT in flower. Altogether, 5 roses. The question becomes one about 10 roses NOT in flower. This is, how many times greater than the given ratio? TEN TIMES MORE. Multiply the entire given ratio by 10.

If 4%2A10 roses are in flower, then 1%2A10 roses are NOT in flower. Altogether, 4%2A10%2B1%2A10=5%2A10, which is 50.