A bottle contains spirit and water in the ratio 1 : 4 and another identical bottle contains spirit and water in the ratio 4 : 1. In what ratio should the mixtures in the two bottles be mixed to get a new mixture in which the ratio of spirit to water is 1 : 3?

Question

Accepted Answer

11 : 1. In bottle 1, spirit fraction = 1/5. In bottle 2, spirit fraction = 4/5. Required spirit fraction = 1/4. Using alligation: |4/5 - 1/4| : |1/4 - 1/5| = 11/20 : 1/20 = 11 : 1. So bottle 1 : bottle 2 = 11 : 1.

A bottle contains spirit and water in the ratio 1 : 4 and another identical bottle contains spirit and water in the ratio 4 : 1. In what ratio should the mixtures in the two bottles be mixed to get a new mixture in which the ratio of spirit to water is 1 : 3?

Explanation

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