A fruit seller had 8.4 kg of apples. He packed them into three baskets. The mass of the first basket was twice the mass of the second basket. The mass of the second basket was 3 times the mass of the third basket. What was the mass of the second basket?
- 0.84 kg
- 2.52 kg
- 2.80 kg
- 4.20 kg
Need a hint?
Start with the smallest basket as 1 unit. How many units is the second basket? Then how many units is the first basket? Add all the units before dividing.
Worked answer
- Let the third basket be 1 unit.
- Second basket = 3 units (3 times the third).
- First basket = 2 × 3 = 6 units (twice the second).
- Total = 6 + 3 + 1 = 10 units.
- 10 units = 8.4 kg, so 1 unit = 0.84 kg.
- Second basket = 3 units = 3 × 0.84 = 2.52 kg.
The mistake this question tests
Stopped at one part in ratio
Pupils often divide 8.4 kg by 3 (the three baskets) to get 2.80 kg, forgetting the baskets are not equal. Others find 1 unit = 0.84 kg but forget to multiply by 3 for the second basket.
How to fix it at home →Wrong answers children often give:
- 2.80 kg Stopped at one part in ratio
- 0.84 kg Calculation slip
- 4.20 kg Stopped at one part in ratio
More PSLE whole numbers questions
Farah spent a total of $560 to buy some cups and bowls for a school fair
See the answer →Short answer · 2mThere were 5 times as many adults as children at a funfair
See the answer →Structured · 5mRavi had 16 small identical baskets and 15 large identical baskets
See the answer →MCQ · 1mThe total mass of 5 boxes is 2015 g
See the answer →Short answer · 2mFour cards each show a different 2-digit number
See the answer →Structured · 3mRavi and Hana had the same amount of money at first
See the answer →Practise PSLE whole numbers until the mistakes stop.
Three PSLE questions, free, no sign-up. You’ll see exactly where the marks went. Then 7 days of everything for S$4.99.