The points N, O, P and Q all lie on the same line segment, in that order, such that the ratio of NO:OP:PQNO:OP:PQ is equal to 4:3:5. If NQ=60, find NO.

Answer 1

If a set of numbers is in the ratio 4:3:5, then the actual numbers could be 4,3,5 or some multiple of those numbers like 8:6:10, or even 400, 300, 500. The idea is to let x (or k) represent the multiplier. Doing so means the measures of the segment lengths can be represented by 4x, 3x , 5x. But it is given that those lengths total 60.

So the equation to solve is 4x + 3x + 5x = 60.

12x = 60

x=5.

So the actual segment lengths are:

4(5). 3(5), 5(5) or 20, 15, 25. NO was represented by 4x.