Question

A herd of 52 horses has 12 white and some black horses. What is the ratio of white to black

Answer 1

12:40

Explanation:

The total number of horses is given as 52.

Number of white horses =12

Let the number of black horses be
`x`.

This means that ratio of white: black horses is 12:
`x`.

Using the ratio above, we can find the number of black horses as follows:

`x/(12+x)` of 52=x

`x/(12+x)*52=x`

`52x/(12+x)=x`

`52x=x(12+x)`

`52x=(12x+x^2)`

`(12x+x^2)=52x`

`x^2+12x-52x=0`

`x^2-40x=0`

Taking out the common factor x from equation we have:

`x(x-40)=0`

This gives us with two solution:

x=0 and x=40.

Since the question said there are some black horses, the x=0 value can be ignored. So we have
`x=40`

Hence the ratio: 12:40