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P6 Constant total

Today’s problem — free all day, every step. Every day has one.

Stickers — Mei gives some to Jun

The ratio of Mei's stickers to Jun's stickers was 7 : 3. After Mei gave some stickers to Jun, the ratio became 3 : 2. Together they had 120 stickers throughout. How many stickers did Mei give to Jun?

One step of the worked solution to Stickers — Mei gives some to Jun, drawn in pencil.
8 steps, drawn in pencil

See all 8 steps

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The pattern behind it: Constant total

Money moves between two people, so their total never changes.

In this one. Stickers only move between the two children, so the total never changes — which means both ratios are describing the same 120, and each one can be turned into real numbers on its own.

Before4 shares in allAlithis one movesBenAfter4 shares in allAliBenarrived here

How to spot it

One person gives, sells or loses an amount to the other, and nobody outside the two people gains or loses anything.

Common mistake

Children draw different totals before and after, or forget that moving an amount from one person to the other changes the gap between them by twice that amount.

Try one like it

Standard Liam and Noah's cards — 7 : 5 becomes 5 : 7 The ratio of Liam's trading cards to Noah's trading cards was 7 : 5. After Liam gave some of his cards to Noah, the ratio became 5…
All 12 with this pattern →

The 33 problem patterns

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