Question

The ratio of priests to acolytes was 2 to 3. if their combined total was 85, how many were not acolytes​

Answer 1

in order to get the values in a whole amount to ratios, we simply divide the amount by the sum of the ratios and distribute accordingly, in this case we'll divide 85 by (2+3),

`\bf \cfrac{priests}{acolytes}\qquad 2:3\qquad \qquad \cfrac{2\cdot (85)/(2+3)}{3\cdot (85)/(2+3)}\implies \cfrac{2\cdot 17}{3\cdot 17}\implies \cfrac{\stackrel{\textit{not acolytes}}{34}}{51}`