Alligation

In this chapter we have to learn the Rule I II

of Alligation. Rule of Alligation is widely used in x1 x2
solving problems related to mixture and several
data interpretation problems. X
Problems of mixture which can be solved x X
2 
: X  x   f
1 1 : f2
by rule of alligation is discussed in detail in next (cross-difference (cross-difference of
chapter (Chapter 27) of x 2 and X ) X and x1 )
Whe neve r we are involve d wi th the The above diagram can be alternatively
weighted mean of two quantities. We apply the expressed as given below. X is the
method of alligation.
weighted mean of x1 and x 2 .
1
Alligation-Based Problems difference
2
Wherever data are given in the form of difference
of x2 and X
of X and x1
x2
weighted mean of two quantities, we can
X
apply alligation rule. x1
Let there be two quantities x1 and x 2 .
Weights or frequencies of x1 and x 2 are
f 1 and f 2 , ie x1 appears f 1 times and x 2
 1 :  2  f 1 : f 2
appears f 2 times. Ex. 1: A person travels the distance of 405 km in
f 1x1  f 2 x 2 9 hrs. He travels a certain distance at 25
Arithmetic Mean or X = .... (1) km/hr and the remaining distance at 90
f1  f 2
km/hr. Find the distance that he travelled
Here X is weighted mean of x1 and x 2 . If at 90 km/hr.
X , x1 and x 2 are given, then we can find 405
the ratio of weights or frequencies involved Soln: Average speed = = 45 km/hr
9
with x1 and x 2 . 45 km/hr is the weighted mean of 25 km/
(1) can be written as hr and 90 km/hr.
Here weight is time spent with each of the
  f 1  f 2 X  f 1x1  f 2 x 2 speeds.
I II
25 km/hr 90 km/hr
  
 f 1 X  x1  f 2 x 2  X  45 km/hr
45 20
f1 x2  X 9 : 4
  .... (2)
f 2 X  x1 Time taken with the rate of 90 km/hr =
Equation (2) gives the ratio of f 1 and f 2 .  4  36
The above equation may also be expressed  9  hrs
 9  4  13
by the diagram given below.
 year 2001.
36 3240
 Distance travelled = 13  90  13 km A B
30% 45%
Ex. 2: In an objective exam of 100 questions, 4 35%
marks is allotted for every correct answer 10 5
and 1 mark is deducted for every wrong 2 : 1
answer. After attempting all the 100 ques-  Ratio of the sale of the companies A and
tions, a student got the total of 270 marks. B at the beginning of the year 2001 is 2 : 1.
Find the number of questions that he at- Because cross-difference in the above dia-
tempted wrong. gram gives the ratio of weights.
Soln: Average marks obtained per question Again, suppose we have to find the ratio of
270 sale of the companies A and B at the end of
=  2.7 the year 2001.
100
Let K be present in the ratio of sale of the
It means that 2.7 is the weighted mean of
companies A and B at the beginning of the
4 and –1. Here, weights or frequencies are
year 2001.
number of questions associated with cor-
Sale of the company A at the end of 2001
rect and wrong answers.
C W 130 26K 13K
= 2K   
4 –1 100 10 5
2.7 Sale of the company B at the end of 2001
3.7 1.3
37 : 13 145 29K
=K× 
 Number of questions attempted wrong by 100 20

K KUNDAN
the student = 

tions.
 13 
  100 = 26 ques-
 37  13 

Directions (Ex. 3-4): In the following bar

graph, percentage increase in sales of companies
A, B, C, D and E for the year 2001 is given.
70 60
 Required ratio =
13K  20 52
5  29K

29
Ex. 4: Percentage increase in the sale of the com-
panies A and B together and the companies
B and C together is 38% and 22% respec-
tively at the end of the year 2001. Find the
ratio of sale of the companies A, B and C at
the beginning of the year 2001.
Percentage increase in sale

60 Soln: First of all find the ratio of sale of the com-

50 45 pany A and the company B
40 30 38% , the overall increase in the sale of the
30 25 companies A and B tog ether, i s the
20 weighted mean of 30% and 45% .
10 A B
30% 45%
0
38%
-10
7 8  7:8
-20 -15
A B C D E Now, we have to find the ratio of sale of the
Nam e of com pany company B and the company C in a similar
Ex. 3: The companies A and B together have 35% fashion.
increase in sale at the end of 2001. Find B C
the ratio of sale of the companies A and B 45% –15%
at the beginning of 2001. 22%
Soln: Overall percentage increase in the sale of 37 23  37 : 23
the companies A and B together is 35% . It Now, by the method of finding compound
means that 35% is the weighted mean of ratio, we have
30% and 45% and the weight is the sale of A : B : C
companies A and B at the beginning of the 7 : 8
37 : 23
  259 : 296 : 184 (ratio of the sale of the hours.
companies A, B and C at the beginning of The distance travelled by train
the year 2001) = 55 × x km and
Ex. 5:There are 65 students in a class, 39 ru- the distance travelled by bus
pees are distributed among them so that = (6 – x) 40 km
each boy gets 80 P and each girl gets 30 P. According to the question,
Find the number of boys and girls in that 40 (6 – x) + 55x = 285
class. 15x = 45  x = 3 hours.
Soln: Detail Method: Let the ratio of boys to the Distance travelled by train
girls in the class be a : b. = 55 × 3 = 165 km.
As per the question, Alligation Method: In this question, the
alligation method is applicable for the
65  a
No. of boys = and the no. of girls = speed.
a b
Speed of bus Speed of train
65  b 40 55
a b Average Speed
65  a 65  b 285
or,  80   30  3900
a b a b 6
or, 5200  3900a  3900  1950b 45 45
6 6
a 1950 3
or,   time spent in bus : time spent in train
b 1300 2
45 45

K KUNDAN
a:b=3:2 = :  1:1
6 6
65  3
 the no. of boys =  39 and  distance travelled by train = 55 × 3 = 165
5
km.
65  2 Ex. 7: Mira’s expenditure and saving are in the
the no. of girls =  26 .
5 ratio 3 : 2. Her income increases by 10% .
Alligation Method: Here alligation is ap- Her expenditure also increases by 12% . By
plicable for “money per boy or girl.” how many % does her saving increase?
Mean value of money per student Soln: Detail Method: Let the Mira’s expenditure
and saving be Rs 3x and Rs 2x
3900
= = 60 P Mira’s income = 3x + 2x = 5x
65
Boys Girls 110 11
Increased income = 5 x   x
80 30 100 2
60 112 84
Increased expenditure = 3x   x
100 25
30 20
11 84 107 x
 Boys : Girls = 3 : 2 Increased saving = x x
2 25 50
65 107 x 7x
 Number of boys = 3  2  3  39 Increase in saving =
50
 2x 
50
and number of girls = 65 – 39 = 26. 7x
% increase in saving =  100  7% .
Ex. 6:A person travels 285 km in 6 hours in two 50  2x
stages. In the first part of the journey, he Alligation Method:
Expenditure Saving
travels by bus at the speed of 40 km per hr.
12 x
In the second part of the journey, he trav-
(% increase in exp) (% increase in saving)
els by train at the speed of 55 km per hr.
How much distance did he travel by train? 10
Soln: Detail Method: Let the person travels for x (% increase in income)
hours by the train.
 Time for which he travels by bus = (6 – x) 3 2 (given)
 We get two values of x, 7 and 13. But to get
a viable answer, we must keep in mind that Rabbit Pigeons
the central value (10 ) must lie between x 4 2
and 12. Thus the value of x should be 7 and 29
not 13. 10
 required % increase = 7% 9 11
Ex. 8: A trader has 50 kg of pulses, part of which 10 10
he sells at 8% profit and the rest at 18%  Rabbit : Pigeons = 9 : 11
profit. He gains 14% on the whole. What is
200
the quantity sold at 18% profit?  Number of pigeons = 9  11  11  110
Soln: Detail Method: Let the quantity sold at
Ex. 10: In an alloy, zinc and copper are in the
18% profit be x kg. Then the quantity sold ratio 1 : 2. In the second alloy the same
at 8% profit will be (50 – x) kg. elements are in the ratio 2 : 3. In what ra-
For a matter of convenience suppose that tio should these two alloys be mixed to form
the price of pulse is 1 rupee per kg. a new alloy in which the two elements are
Then price of x kg pulse = Rs x and price of in ratio 5 : 8?
(50 – x) kg pulse = Rs (50 – x) Soln: Detail Method: Let them be mixed in the
Now we get an equation, ratio x : y
18% of x + 8% of (50 – x) = 14% of 50 x
Then, in 1st alloy, Zinc = and
 18x + 8(50 – x) = 14 × 50 3
 10x = 300  x = 30 2x
By Alligation Method: Copper =
3

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I Part II Part
8% profit 18% profit 2y 3y
2nd alloy, Zinc  and Copper 
14% 5 5
(mean profit) x 2y 2x 3y
4% 6% Now, we have  :  =5:8
3 5 3 5
=4:6=2:3
Therefore the quantity sold at 18% profit = 5x  6y 5
or, 10x  9y  8
50
 3  30 kg.
23 or, 40x  48y  50x  45y
Ex. 9: In a zoo, there are rabbits and pigeons. If
x 3
heads are counted, there are 200 and if legs or, 10x = 3y  y  10
are counted, there are 580. How many pi-
geons are there? Thus, the required ratio = 3 : 10.
Soln: Detail Method: Let the no. of rabbits be R By Method of Alligation:
and the pigeons be P. You must know that we can apply this rule
According to the question, over the fractional value of either zinc or
R + P = 200 ..... (i) and copper. Let us consider the fractional value
4R + 2P = 580 .... (ii) of zinc.
[ Rabbits are 4-legged creatures and pi- 1st alloy 2nd alloy
geons are 2-legged creatures.] 1 2
From solving eqn (i) and (ii) we get 3 5
R = 90, and P = 110 5 (mixture)
 No. of rabbits = 90 and 13
No. of pigeons = 110.
1 2
Alligation Method: Rule of Alligation is
applicable on number of legs per head.
65 39
Therefore, they should be mixed in the ra-
Average number of legs per head
1 2 1 39 3
580 29 tio : or,   or 3 : 10
=  65 39 65 2 10
200 10
Note: Now, we try to solve it by taking fractional an increase of 15% . By what per cent did
value of Copper. the weight of Shyam increase?
1st alloy 2nd alloy Soln: The overall % increase in the weight of Ram
2 3 & Shyam is the weighted mean of percent-
3 5 age increase in the weight of Ram &
8
Shyam.
13 Alligation Method:
Ram Shyam
1 2 10% x%
65 39 15%
Therefore, they should be mixed in the ra- 4 5 (given)
1 2 1 39 3 By the rule of alligation
tio : or,   or, 3 : 10
65 39 65 2 10 x  15 4
 or, x – 15 = 4  x = 19
Ex. 11: Jayshree purchased 150 kg of wheat at 15  10 5
the rate of Rs 7 per kg. She sold 50 kg at a Ex. 13: A trader has 50 kg of rice, a part of which
profit of 10% . At what rate per kg should he sells at 14% profit and the rest at 6%
she sell the remaining to get a profit of 20% loss. On the whole his loss is 4% . What is
on the total deal? the quantity sold at 14% profit and that at
Soln: Detail Method: 6% loss?
Selling price of 150 kg wheat at 20% profit Soln: Detail Method: Let the quantity sold at 14%
profit be x kg. Then the quantity sold at 6%
120  = Rs 1260
 150  7  loss will be (50 – x) kg.
100  For a matter of convenience suppose that

K KUNDAN
Selling price of 50 kg wheat at 10% profit

 50  7
110  = Rs 385
100 


 Selling price per kg of remaining 100 kg

wheat  1260  385 = Rs 8.75
100
By Method of Alligation: Selling price per
kg at 10% profit = Rs 7.70
Selling price per kg at 20% profit = Rs 8.40
Now, the two lots are in ratio = 1 : 2
50 kg 100 kg
7.7 x Alligation Method:
8.4
0.7
x – 8.4
 x  8.4 : 0.7
x  8.4 1
   x  8.4  0.35
0.7 2  quantity sold at 14% profit
 x  8.40  0.35  8.75
 Selling price per kg of remaining 100 kg
= Rs 8.75
Ex. 12: Weights of two friends Ram and Shyam
are in the ratio of 4 : 5. Ram’s weight in-
creases by 10% and the total weight of Ram
and Shyam together becomes 82.8 kg, with
the price of rice is 1 rupee per kg.
Then price of x kg rice = Rs x and price of
(50 – x) kg rice = Rs (50 – x)
Now, we have
14% profit of x + 6% loss of (50 – x) = 4% loss
of 50
or, 14% of x – 6% of (50 – x) = –4% of 50
or, 14x – 300 + 6x = –200 or, 20x = 100
 x = 5 kg and 50 – x = 50 - 5 = 45 kg.
Therefore, the quantity sold at 14% profit =
5 kg and the quantity sold at 6% loss = 45
kg.
I Part II Part
14 (–)6
(–)4
(as there is loss
on the whole)
2 18
 ratio of quantities sold at 14% profit and
6% loss = 2 : 18 = 1 : 9
50
=  1  5 kg
1 9
and sold at 6% loss = 50 – 5 = 45 kg.
Note: Numbers in the third line should always
be +ve. That is why (–) 6 – (–)4 = –2 is not
taken under consideration.
 Exercise
1. In an objective examination of 90 questions, 1) 59 1) 43
5 marks are allotted for every correct answer 3) 67 4) Can’t be deter-
and 2 marks are deducted for every wrong mined
answer. After attempting all the 90 questions 7. The percentage share of Skoda Auto among
student got the answer. After attempting all all auto companies in year 2004-05, and 2005-
the 90 questions student got the total of 387 06 be 1.33% and 1.1% respectively. But the
marks. Find the number of questions that he overall share for the period 2004-06 be 1.21% .
attempted wrong. Fin d th e ratio of sale of all the auto
1) 18 2) 36 compabnies for year 2004-05 to 2005-06.
3) 9 4) 27 1) 11 : 12 2) 9 : 10
2. A sum of Rs 18000 is lent out into two parts @ 3) 7 : 8 4) Can’t say
5% and 8% simple interest. Such that simple 8. A shopkeeper has 50 kgs of rice. He sells a
interest on the whole sum at the end of 2 part of it at 20% profit and the rest at 40%
years is Rs 1944. Find the sum that is lent profit. If he gain 25% on the whole, find the
out @ 5% simple interest. quantity of each part.
1) Rs 15600 2) Rs 17200 1) 39 kg, 11 kg 2) 37.5 kg, 12.5 kg
3) Rs 14400 4) None of these 3) 30 kg, 20 kg 4) None of these
3. Two bicycle are bought for Rs 2000. The first 9. A shopkeeper has 100 kgs of tea. He sells a
bicycle was sold at the profit of 7.5% and the part of it at 20% profit and the rest at 5% loss.
second bicycle was sold at the loss of 5% . Find If his overall profit is 10% , find the quantity

K KUNDAN
the overall % gain in the whole transaction
is 5% price of bicycle which was sold at the
loss of 5% .
1) Rs 900
3) Rs 800
2) Rs 400
4) Rs 1200
4. A person has Rs 5000. He invests a part of it
at 3% per annum and the remainder at 8%
for each part.
1) 80 kg, 20 kg
3) 70 kg, 30 kg
2) 60 kg, 40 kg
4) None of these
10. A merchant has 160 kgs of wheat. He sells a
part of it at 10% profit and the rest at 6% loss.
If he incurs 4% loss on the whole, find the
quantity for each part.
per annum simple interest. His total income 1) 30 kg, 130 kg 2) 20 kg, 140 kg
in 3 years is Rs 750. Find the sum invested 3) 50 kg, 110 kg 4) None of these
at different rates of interest. 11. A person buys two watches for Rs 1000. He
1) 3500, 1500 2) 3000, 2000 sells one at a loss of 5% and the other at 20%
3) 3800, 1200 4) None of these gain and on the whole he gains Rs 50. Find
5. A person covers a distance of 100 km in 10 the cost price of each watch.
hours. Partly by walking at 7 km/hr and rest 1) Rs 600, Rs 400 2) Rs 750, Rs 250
by running at 12 km/hr. Find the distance 3) Rs 650, Rs 350 4) None of these
covered while he was running. 12. A person bought two tables for Rs 2200. He
1) 64 km 2) 84 km sells one at 5% loss and the other at 6% profit
3) 72 km 4) None of these and thus on the whole he neither gains nor
6. In an engineering college the average salary loses. Find the cost price of each.
of all engineering graduate from Mechanical 1) Rs 1300, Rs 900 2) Rs 1150, Rs 1050
trade is 2.45 lac per annum and the engineer- 3) Rs 1200, Rs 1000 4) Rs 1400, Rs 800
ing graduate from electronics trade is 3.56 13. A man bought a certain quantity of sugar for
lacs per annum. The average salary of all Rs 8000. He sells one-fourth of it at 10% loss.
mechanical and electronics graduate is 3.12 At what per cent profit should he sell the re-
lacs per annum. Find the least number of mainder stock so as to make an overall profit
electronics graduate passing out from this of 20%
institute. 1) 32% 2) 19% 3) 25% 4) 30%
14. A man borrows a total sum of Rs 10,000 from 17. The expenditure and savings of an employee
two sources. To one he pays 10% and to the are in the ratio 3 : 1. His income increases
other 5% per annum simple interest. If the by 16% but at the same time his expenditure
total interest paid by him every year is Rs 700, also increases by 20% . Find increase or de-
how much did he borrow at each rate of inter- crease in his savings.
est? 1) 4% increase
1) Rs 2500, Rs 7500 2) Rs 3000, Rs 7000 2) 7% increase
3) Rs 3500, Rs 6500 4) Rs 4000, Rs 6000 3) 6% decrease
15. The average monthly salary of employees, 4) 8% decrease
consisting of officers and workers, of an 18. Rs 675 was divided among 75 boys and girls.
organisation is Rs 3000. The average salary Each boy gets Rs 20 whereas a girl gets Rs 5.
of an officer is Rs 10,000 while that of a Find the number of boys and girls.
worker is Rs 2000 per month. If there are to- 1) 45 2) 55
tal 400 employees in the organisation, find 3) 25 4) 35
the number of officers. 19. A sum of Rs 70 is divided among 10 children.
1) 50 2) 60 Each boy gets Rs 10 whereas a girl gets Rs 5.
3) 80 4) 40 If the number of boys is 4, find the number of
girls.
16. The average daily wages of staff, consisting
1) 4 2) 6
of supervisors and labourers, of a company is
3) 8 4) 10
Rs 50. The average wages of supervisors is
20. A sum of Rs 12 is made up of 30 coins which
Rs 150 while that of labourers is Rs 40 per
consist of either 50 paise or 25 paise. How

K KUNDAN
day. If the number of supervisors is 15, find
many are there of each kind?
the number of labourers in the company.
1) 18, 12 2) 16, 14
1) 160 2) 120
3) 17, 13 4) 19, 11
3) 150 4) 200

 Check your answer

1 3 2 1 3 2 4 2 5 3 6 3 7 1
8 2 9 2 10 2 11 1 12 3 13 4 14 4
15 1 16 3 17 1 18 2 19 2 20 1

Answers and explanations and the weight is the sum associated with
1. 3; By the rule of alligation: each of the rate of interest.
Correct Wrong 5% 8%
5 2 5.4%
2.6 0.4  13 : 2
4.3
Sum that is lent out @ 5%
6.3 0.7  9 : 1
No. of questions attempted wrong by the 13
=  18000  15600
15
1
student =  90  9 3. 2; By the method of alligation:
10
I II
2. 1; First of all, find the overall rate of interest.
7.5% –5%
Let R be the overall rate of interest.
5%
18000  2  R 10 2.5  4 : 1
 1944  R  5.4%
100 Cost price of the bicycle which was sold on
By the method of alligation,
1
5.4% is the weighted mean of 5% and 8% , the loss of 5% =  2000 = Rs 400
5
4. 2; See soln (2) or 1:7
5. 3; See example (1) 1
6. 3; 3.12 lacs is the weighted mean of 2.45 lacs Quantity sold at 10% profit =  160  20
1 7
and 3.56 lacs and the weight is the number kgs
of students passing out from each of the Quantity sold at 6% loss = 160 – 20 = 140
institute. kgs
Mechanical Electronics
50
2.45 3.56 11. 1; Overall % profit =  100  5%
1000
3.12 –5 +20
0.44 0.67  44 : 67 +5
Clearly, 44 and 67 are prime to each other 15 10
it means that we can’t further simplify the or 3:2
antecedent and precedent. CP of watch sold at 5% loss
 The least number of electronics gradu-
ates passing out from the institute = 67. 3
=  1000 = Rs 600
32
7. 1; The overall % share 1.21% is the weighted
CP of watch sold at 20% gain
mean of share of Skoda Auto in year 2004-
= 1000 – 600 = Rs 400.
05 and 2005-06.
12. 3; By the alligation method:
By the method of alligation, –5 +6
2004-05 2005-06 0
1.33% 1.1% 6 5
1.21% CP of the table sold at 5% loss

K KUNDAN
0.11 0.12  11 : 12
6
Therefore the total no. of vehicles in 2004- =  2200 = Rs 1200
65
05 and 2005-06 is in the ratio 11 : 12.
CP of the table sold at 6% profit
8. 2; By alligation method:
20% 40% 5
=  2200 = Rs 1000
25% 65
15 5 13. 4; Let the remainder stock be sold at x% profit.
or 3:1 –10 +x
+20
Quantity sold at 20% profit
x  20 30
3
=  50  37 .5 kg
3 1 x  20 1 4
Now, 
Quantity sold at 40% profit 30 34
= (50 – 37.5) = 12.5 kgs
1
9. 2; By the alligation method: or, x  20  30 
3
+20 –5
+10 or, x  20  10
10 – (–5) = 15 10 or, x  30 % profit
or 3:2 14. 4; By Alligation Method:
Quantity sold at 20% profit Average rate of interest
3 700  100
=  100  60 kgs = 10,000  1  7% per annum
32
Quantity sold at 5% loss = (100 – 60) = 40 10% 5%
kgs. 7%
10. 2; By the alligation method: 2 3
+10 –6 Amount borrowed at 10%
–4 2
=  10,000 = Rs 4000
2 14 23
 Amount borrowed at 5% (Boys) (Girls)
Rs 20 Rs 5
3
=  10,000 = Rs 6000
23
(Average)
15. 1; Rs 10,000 Rs 2000
Rs 9
Rs 3000
1000 7000
4 11
Number of officers 1000 1
  4
Number of workers 7000 7 Number of boys =  75  20
4  11
1
No. of officers =  400  50 11
1 7 Number of girls =  75  55
4  11
No. of workers = 400 – 50 = 350.
19. 2; (Boys) (Girls)
16. 3; Rs 150 Rs 40
Rs 10 Rs 5
Rs 50
10 100
(Average)
Number of supervisor s 10 1 Rs 7
 
Number of labourers 100 10
Total number of labourers = Total no. of su- 2 3
pervisors × 10 = 15 × 10 = 150 Number of girls 3
17. 1; Here expenditure and savings are two in- 
Number of boys 2
gredients of income. Therefore, we can
write as under, assuming x% as increase 3
Number of girls = 4 6
in savings,

K KUNDAN
2
(% increase in (% increase in 20. 1; Average value of 30 coins
Expenditure Savings
20% x% 12  100
= = 40 paise
16% 30
(% increase in income) 50 P 25P
16 – x 4 40 P
15 10
16  x 3 or, 3:2
 (given)
4 1
3
or, 16  x  12 No. of 50 P coins =  30  18
32
or, x  4% No. of 25P coins = 30 – 18 = 12.
18. 2; Average money per head (boy or girl)
675
= Rs = Rs 9
75