Knowbotic
RatioShort answer · 2 marks

At a toy shop, there were 48 robot kits and 216 board-game boxes. The shop received an equal number of robot kits and board-game boxes. After the new stock was added, the ratio of robot kits to board-game boxes became 1 : 3. How many robot kits were added?

Need a hint?

Adding equal numbers does not change the difference between the two quantities.

Worked answer

  1. The difference stayed the same: 216 − 48 = 168.
  2. In the ratio 1 : 3, the difference of 2 parts was 168, so 1 part was 168 ÷ 2 = 84.
  3. The number of robot kits added was 84 − 48 = 36.
Answer: 36 robot kits

The mistake this question tests

Habit

Stopped at one part in ratio

Taking 216 ÷ 3 = 72 as the final number of robot kits ignores that new stock was added to both quantities. The ratio applies to the final quantities.

How to fix it at home →

Wrong answers children often give:

  • 24 Stopped at one part in ratio
  • 72 Stopped at one part in ratio

More PSLE ratio questions

All ratio short-answer questions →

Practise PSLE ratio 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.