Question

A sum of rupees 280 is to be used to give four prizes.If each prize is rupees 20 less than its preceding price, find the value of each of the prizes.

Answer 1

Let the last prize be x
Then the 3rd prize = x + 20
And the 2nd prize = (x + 20) + 20 = x + 40
And the first prize = (x +40) + 20 = x + 60

So we get that,
x + (x+20) + (x+40) + (x+60) = 280
4x + 120 = 280
4x = 160
x = 40

So the prizes are 100, 80, 60 and 40.