Average, Mixture and Alligation Question 6 - CAT 2022
A mixture contains lemon juice and sugar syrup in equal proportion. If a new mixture is created by adding this mixture and sugar syrup in the ratio 1 : 3, then the ratio of lemon juice and sugar syrup in the new mixture is:
Step-by-Step Explanation
Assume a convenient, highly divisible starting quantity for the original mixture.
Let us take 4 units of the initial mixture.
Since lemon juice and sugar syrup are present in equal proportions (1 : 1), this sample contains:
Lemon Juice = 2 units, Sugar Syrup = 2 units
Now, this original mixture is blended with pure sugar syrup in a strict 1 : 3 volume ratio.
Since we took 4 units of the original mixture, we must add three times that amount of pure sugar syrup:
Pure Sugar Syrup Added = 4 × 3 = 12 units
Calculate the updated final component volumes across the consolidated pool:
- Total Final Lemon Juice = 2 units (unchanged)
- Total Final Sugar Syrup = 2 units (original) + 12 units (added) = 14 units
The new compositional ratio is:
Ratio = 2 : 14 = 1 : 7
Correct Option: D
💡 FundaMakers Tip:
Avoid using abstract percentage fractions like 50% when dealing with ratio-on-ratio combinations. Choose a concrete starting volume that matches the sum of the ratio terms (like choosing 4 units because it splits cleanly into a 1:1 mixture and scales easily by a factor of 3). This approach eliminates fractional steps entirely.