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P6 Constant total

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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 : 7. Together they had 144 cards throughout. How many cards did Liam give to Noah?

One step of the worked solution to Liam and Noah's cards — 7 : 5 becomes 5 : 7, drawn in pencil.
7 steps, drawn in pencil

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The pattern behind it: Constant total

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

In this one. Because the cards only move between Liam and Noah, the same total of 144 can be split using each 12-unit ratio.

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 Nadia and Priya's beads — what Nadia gave In a craft class, the ratio of Nadia's beads to Priya's beads was 4 : 1. After Nadia gave some of her beads to Priya, the ratio be…
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The 33 problem patterns

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