Question 1205512
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Tom and John paid for a present in the ratio of 7 to 4 respectively. 
In doing so John spent a quarter of his money and Tom had $99 left. 
If the ratio of the amount of Tom's money to John's money was 5 to 2 respectively 
before they bought the present, how much did the present cost.
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<pre>
From the problem, Tom paid 7x dollars; John paid 4x dollars, where x is the common measure of their payments.


Before spending, John had  4*(4x) = 16x dollars inititially.

Before spending, Tom had (7x+99) dollars initially.


From the problem, we have this proportion

    {{{Tom/John}}} = {{{(7x+99)/(16x)}}} = {{{5/2}}}.


From the proportion

    2*(7x+99) = 5*(16x)

    14x + 198 = 80x

    198 = 80x - 14x

    198 =   66x

      x =  198/66 = 3.


The present's cost was 7x+4x = 11x = 11*3 = 33 dollars.    <U>ANSWER</U>
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Solved.