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Alice, Bob and Carol — sharing money in ratio
Alice, Bob, and Carol share a sum of money in the ratio 2 : 3 : 7. Carol's share is $168 more than Alice's share. Find the total sum.
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65 worked examples are free without a code, two from every pattern. No account, either way.
The pattern behind it: Units and parts
Cut one amount into equal shares. One number tells you what a share is worth.
In this one. A stated difference is not anybody's share — it is a count of units (7 − 2 = 5 of them), so dividing it by that count gives one unit, and an ugly unit value is still a perfectly good unit.
How to spot it
A single amount is split by a ratio, a fraction or a percentage. One extra number gives you the leftover, the difference, or the value of one share.
Common mistake
Children match the given number to the wrong number of shares, using the whole bar when the number covers only the leftover or the difference between two people's shares.
Try one like it
Standard A bicycle's price — the percentage increase A bicycle shop increased the price of a bicycle from $650 to $780. What is the percentage increase?The 33 problem patterns
All 33 patterns, one to a page — the 19 behind Primary 5 and 6 word problems, and the skills the younger years are built on. The bar model, how to spot it in the question, and the mistake children make. A booklet you can print. Free.
A PDF, and a note when new solutions go up.