Question

What number must be added to each term of the ratio 17:33 so that the ratio becomes 7:15?

Answer 1

Answers is -3

Let x be the number to be added to the terms in numerator and denominator so the ratio becomes 7/15

(17+x)/(33+x)=7/15

Cross multipilng we get

(17+x)×15=(33+x)×7

17×15+x×15=33×7+x×7

(15-7)×x=(33×7-17×15)

8×x=-24

x=-24/8=-3