SOLUTION: A watermelon is cut into two pieces in the ratio 4:5 by weight. Then the larger piece is cut into two pieces in the ratio 7:8 by weight. Out of three pieces what is the ratio of th

Algebra ->  Divisibility and Prime Numbers -> SOLUTION: A watermelon is cut into two pieces in the ratio 4:5 by weight. Then the larger piece is cut into two pieces in the ratio 7:8 by weight. Out of three pieces what is the ratio of th      Log On


   

Question 983150: A watermelon is cut into two pieces in the ratio 4:5 by weight. Then the larger piece is cut into two pieces in the ratio 7:8 by weight. Out of three pieces what is the ratio of the weight of the largest piece to that of smallest piece?
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, MathTherapy:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39618) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
After the first cut, the small part is 4%2F9 and the big part is 5%2F9.

Second cut:
The two pieces made from the big part are %285%2F9%29%287%2F15%29 and %285%2F9%29%288%2F15%29.

Attention is now on the fractions 4%2F9;
%285%2F9%29%287%2F15%29;
and
%285%2F9%29%288%2F15%29.

Bring the 4%2F9 to terms of 1%2F%289%2A15%29.
%284%2F9%29%2815%2F15%29=highlight_green%2860%2F%289%2A15%29%29.

Now you are ready to compare.
Which is the largest among system%28highlight_green%2860%2F%289%2A15%29%29%2C35%2F%289%2A15%29%2C40%2F%289%2A15%29%29?

The largest is the highlight%284%2F9%29 part which came from the first cutting, which was not cut further.

Answer by MathTherapy(10552) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

A watermelon is cut into two pieces in the ratio 4:5 by weight. Then the larger piece is cut into two pieces in the ratio 7:8 by weight. Out of three pieces what is the ratio of the weight of the largest piece to that of smallest piece?
Ratio: highlight_green%2812%3A7%29