Question

What number must be subtracted from each of the numbers 10, 12, 19, 24 to get the numbers which are in proportion?​

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

Let us subtract x from each of the four numbers. Thus

(10-x):(12-x) = (19-x):(24-x), or

(10-x)(24-x) = (12-x)(19-x), or

240 - 34x + x^2 = 228 - 31x + x^2, or

34x - 31x = 240 - 228, or

3x = 12, or x = 4.

Check: (10-x):(12-x) = (19-x):(24-x)

LHS = (10–4):(12–4) = 6/8 = 3/4.

RHS = (19-x):(24-x) = (19–4):(24–4) = 15/20 = 3/4. Correct.

So subtract 4 from each of the four numbers : 10, 12, 19 and 24 to make them proportional.