The question is in the description.

Question

A supplier sells 2 1/4 pounds of mulch for every 1 1/3 pounds of gravel. The supplier sends 172 pounds of mulch and gravel combined. How many pounds of each item does the supplier sell?

Answer 1

There are 2 1/4 pounds of mulch for every 1 1/3 pounds of gravel so the ratio is  

 

2 1/4 : 1 1/3  

 

Converting to improper fractions gives the ratio as  

 

9/4 : 4/3  

 

Multiplying both sides by 12 gives the ratio as  

 

27 : 16  

 

If 2 numbers are in the ratio of 27 : 16 then the numbers are equal to 27x and 16x for some value of x.  The total amount is 172 pounds so  

 

27x + 16x = 172

43x = 172

x = 4  

 

so the amount of mulch sold is 27*4 = 108 pounds

and the amount of gravel sold is 16*4 = 64 pounds