The ratio of the number of carabaos, goats, and cows in a farm is 5:1:2. If there are 48 animals of these kinds in his backyard, how many of them are goats.

Question

math problem

Answer 1

The ratio   a:b:c  means that there is an integer n such that   an:bn:cn   are the actual numbers of each kind.  This is because a ratio is a fraction, and

     n = an/a

     n = bn/b

     n = cn/n

 

The ratio   5:1:2  is actually the numbers  5n:1n:2n  which have already been reduced (just like we would reduce 3/6 to 1/2 by dividing both numerator and denominator by 3).

 

"There are 48 animals"   means   5n+1n+2n=48

    8n=48

     n=6

 

The actual values are:    30:6:12      (carabaos:goats:cows)

  So, 6 of them are goats.