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Mixture & Alligation

Alligation:
It is the rule that enables us to find the ratio in which two or more ingredients are mixed
to produce a new mixture.

Mean value (m) : The value of a unit quantity of the mixture is called the mean value.
Note: Here value can be price/kg, %, ratio, rate of interest etc.

Rule of Alligation: If two ingredients of values a and b (Let b > a) are mixed and the
value of the mixture be m (where a, b and m must be in same units), then

Then ratio of 1st ingredient and 2nd ingredient = (b – m) : (m – a)

Following types of questions can be solved by Alligation:

Example 1: A shopkeeper mixes 36 kg of rice costing Rs. 40/kg with how much kg of
another rice costing Rs. 23/kg to get the mixture of rice costing Rs. 32/kg?

Note: In this question, we will use Alligation for price per kg and we will get the
ratio of the weight.
Sol: Let required weight = x kg, then apply Alligation for price per kg

Example 2: A shopkeeper mixes 2 tea A and B costing ₹240/kg and ₹300/kg respectively.
By selling the mixture at the rate of ₹280/kg, he makes profit of 12%, then in which ratio
he mixes the tea A and B?
Note: In this question, we will use Alligation for cost price per kg and we will get
the ratio of the weight.
SP of the mixture 280
Sol: CP of the mixture = 12 = 12 = ₹250/kg
(1 + ) (1 + )
100 100

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Hence, the required ratio = 50 : 10 = 5 : 1.

Example 3: In which ratio a wine A of 15% concentration is mixed with another wine B
of 70% concentration to get wine solution of 40% concentration?

Note: In this question, we will apply Alligation for percentage and we will get the
ratio of the volume of the wines A and B:
Sol:

Example 4: The ratio of Iron and Silver in the first and second alloy are 5 : 7 and 8 : 7
respectively. In what ratio should these two alloys be mixed to form a new alloy in which
the ratio of Iron and Silver is 4 : 5?

Note: In this question, we will apply Alligation for any one of the two elements
(Iron or Silver) and we will get the ratio of the two alloys:
Sol: Here ratio of Iron and Silver is given, so here we can apply Alligation for any one of
the Iron or Silver. We will apply Alligation for Iron

Hence, required ratio = (8/15 – 4/9) : (4/9 – 5/12) = (4/45) : (1/36) = 16 : 5

Example 5: In an office, there are two types of employees – Officers and Assistant. The
average salary of the entire employees in an office is Rs.12000 per month. The average
salary of the officers is Rs.36000 and that of assistant is Rs.9000. If the number of officers
is 240, then find the numbers of assistants in the office.

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Note: If in a question salary, age, weight etc will be given, then in this type of
questions, we will apply Alligation for salary, age, weight and we will get the
ratio of numbers.
Sol: We will apply Alligation for salary

The ratio of officers and assistants = 3000 : 24000 = 1 : 8

Given, 1  240
 8  240 × 8 = 1920
Hence, the required number = 1920

Example 6: A shopkeeper sells an article at 12% profit and another article at 18% loss.
If in whole transaction, he made 3% profit, then what is the respective ratio of the cost
price of the two articles is

Note: In this question, we will use Alligation for profit% or loss % (if there is
loss, then loss% = – profit%) and we will get the ratio of the cost price.

Sol: Apply Alligation for profit%,

Hence, the required ratio = 21 : 9 = 7 : 3.

Example 7: A covers 400 km in 10 hours. The first part of the journey is travelled by bus
at the speed of 25 km/hr and second part of the journey by a car at the speed of 60 km/hr.
What is the ratio of distances covered by bus and car?

Note: In this question, we will use Alligation for average speed and we will get
the ratio of the time.
Sol: Average speed for whole journey = 400/10 = 40 km/hr

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Ratio of time taken by bus and car = (60 – 40) : (40 – 25) = 20 : 15 = 4 : 3
Hence, the ratio of distances covered by bus and car = Ratio of time × speed
= (4 × 25) : (3 × 60) = 5 : 9.

Example 8: A sum of Rs.25000 is lent partly at 10% and the remaining at 18%. If on the
whole sum, the rate of interest is 12%, then the amount lent at 10% is
Note: In this question, we will use Alligation for rate of interest % and we will
get the ratio of the principal.
Sol: Apply Alligation for rate of interest%

Hence, the required ratio = (18 – 12) : (12 – 10) = 6 : 2 = 3 : 1.

Replacement:
I. For a vessel of volume V is filled with liquid A. If x litres of liquid A is withdrawn and it
is filled with x litre of liquid B. If this process is repeated n times, then after n operations
𝑥 𝑛
• Quantity of liquid A in the mixture = 𝑉 (1 – )
𝑉
𝑥 𝑛 𝑥 𝑛
• Quantity of liquid B in the mixture = V – V(1 – ) = V[1 – (1 – ) ]
𝑉 𝑉
• Ratio of quantity of liquid A and B in the mixture is a : b, then
𝑥 𝑛 𝑎
(1 – ) =
𝑉 (𝑎 + 𝑏)

II. For a vessel of volume V filled with liquids A and B in the ratio a : b. If x litres of mixture
is withdrawn and it is filled with x litre of liquid B. If this process is repeated n times, then
after n operations
𝑎 𝑥 𝑛
• Quantity of liquid A in the mixture = 𝑉 [ (1 – ) ]
(𝑎 + 𝑏) 𝑉
• Quantity of liquid B in the mixture
𝑎 𝑥 𝑛 𝑎 𝑥 𝑛
= V – 𝑉[ (1 – ) ] = V [1 – (1 – ) ]
(𝑎 + 𝑏) 𝑉 (𝑎 + 𝑏) 𝑉