Question

$$\text{red}:\text{blue}:\text{white}=3:2:1. $$They have $48$ cans of red paint, $40$ cans of blue paint, and $15$ cans of white paint. The cans are all the same size. What is the greatest number of cans of mixed paint they can make with the same ratio of colors

Answer 1

45 : 30 : 15

Explanation:

Ratio:

red : blue : white = 3 : 2 : 1

Actual numbers of cans:

red = 48

blue = 40

white = 15

The ratio is 3 : 2 : 1

Divide each actual number of cans by the corresponding number in the ratio.

red: 48/3 = 16

blue: 20/2 = 20

white: 15/1 = 15

The ratio can also be expressed as 3k : 2k : k

Choose the smallest of the quotients above for k.

For k = 15, the ratio is

3k : 2k : k = 3(15) : 2(15) : 1(15) = 45 : 30 : 15