Alligation

In this chapter we have to learn the Rule

of Alligation. Rule of Alligation is widely used in
solving problems related to mixture and several
data interpretation problems.
Problems of mixture which can be solved
by rule of alligation is discussed in detail in next
chapter (Chapter 27)
Whe neve r we are involve d wi th the
weighted mean of two quantities. We apply the
method of alligation.

Alligation-Based Problems
Wherever data are given in the form of
weighted mean of two quantities, we can
apply alligation rule.

II

x1

x2

X x f

:
X
(cross-difference
2

: f2

(cross-difference of

of x 2 and X )
X and x1 )
The above diagram can be alternatively
expressed as given below. X is the
weighted mean of x1 and x 2 .
1
difference
2
of x2 and X
difference
x2
of X and x1

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

Here X is weighted mean of x1 and x 2 . If

1 : 2 f 1 : f 2
Ex. 1: A person travels the distance of 405 km in
9 hrs. He travels a certain distance at 25
km/hr and the remaining distance at 90
km/hr. Find the distance that he travelled
at 90 km/hr.

X , x1 and x 2 are given, then we can find

the ratio of weights or frequencies involved

Soln: Average speed =

appears f 2 times.
Arithmetic Mean or X =

f 1x1 f 2 x 2
.... (1)
f1 f 2

with x1 and x 2 .
(1) can be written as

f 1 f 2 X f 1x1 f 2 x 2

f 1 X x1 f 2 x 2 X

f1 x2 X

f 2 X x1

.... (2)

Equation (2) gives the ratio of f 1 and f 2 .

The above equation may also be expressed
by the diagram given below.

405
= 45 km/hr
9
45 km/hr is the weighted mean of 25 km/
hr and 90 km/hr.
Here weight is time spent with each of the
speeds.
I
II
25 km/hr
90 km/hr
45 km/hr
45
20
9
:
4
Time taken with the rate of 90 km/hr =
36
4

9
hrs
9

4
13

36
3240
Distance travelled = 13 90 13 km
Ex. 2: In an objective exam of 100 questions, 4
marks is allotted for every correct answer
and 1 mark is deducted for every wrong
answer. After attempting all the 100 questions, a student got the total of 270 marks.
Find the number of questions that he attempted wrong.
Soln: Average marks obtained per question
270
2.7
100
It means that 2.7 is the weighted mean of
4 and 1. Here, weights or frequencies are
number of questions associated with correct and wrong answers.
C
W
4
1
2.7
3.7
1.3
37
:
13
Number of questions attempted wrong by

year 2001.
A
30%

B
45%

35%
10
5
2
:
1
Ratio
of
the
sale
of
the
companies A and

B at the beginning of the year 2001 is 2 : 1.

Because cross-difference in the above diagram gives the ratio of weights.
Again, suppose we have to find the ratio of
sale of the companies A and B at the end of
the year 2001.
Let K be present in the ratio of sale of the
companies A and B at the beginning of the
year 2001.
Sale of the company A at the end of 2001
130 26K 13K

100
10
5
Sale of the company B at the end of 2001

= 2K

=K

145 29K

100
20

K KUNDAN

13
100 = 26 questhe student =
37 13
tions.
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.
Percentage increase in sale

70

60

60
45

50
40

30

25

30
20
10
0
-10
-20
A

-15
B
C
D
Nam e of com pany

Ex. 3: The companies A and B together have 35%

increase in sale at the end of 2001. Find
the ratio of sale of the companies A and B
at the beginning of 2001.
Soln: Overall percentage increase in the sale of
the companies A and B together is 35% . It
means that 35% is the weighted mean of
30% and 45% and the weight is the sale of
companies A and B at the beginning of the

13K 20 52

5 29K
29
Ex. 4: Percentage increase in the sale of the companies A and B together and the companies
B and C together is 38% and 22% respectively 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.
Soln: First of all find the ratio of sale of the company A and the company B
38% , the overall increase in the sale of the
companies A and B tog ether, i s the
weighted mean of 30% and 45% .
A
B
30%
45%
38%
7
8 7:8
Required ratio =

Now, we have to find the ratio of sale of the

company B and the company C in a similar
fashion.
B
C
45%
15%
22%
37
23 37 : 23
Now, by the method of finding compound
ratio, we have
A
:
B
:
C
7
:
8
37
:
23

 259 : 296 : 184 (ratio of the sale of the

companies A, B and C at the beginning of
the year 2001)
Ex. 5:There are 65 students in a class, 39 rupees are distributed among them so that
each boy gets 80 P and each girl gets 30 P.
Find the number of boys and girls in that
class.
Soln: Detail Method: Let the ratio of boys to the
girls in the class be a : b.
As per the question,
No. of boys =

65 a
and the no. of girls =
a b

65 b
a b

or,

hours.
The distance travelled by train
= 55 x km and
the distance travelled by bus
= (6 x) 40 km
According to the question,
40 (6 x) + 55x = 285
15x = 45 x = 3 hours.
Distance travelled by train
= 55 3 = 165 km.
Alligation Method: In this question, the
alligation method is applicable for the
speed.
Speed of bus
Speed of train
40
55
Average Speed
285
6

65 a
65 b
80
30 3900
a b
a b

or, 5200 3900a 3900 1950b

a 1950 3

b 1300 2
a:b=3:2

or,

45
45
6
6
time spent in bus : time spent in train
45 45
:
1:1
6 6
distance travelled by train = 55 3 = 165
km.
Ex. 7: Miras expenditure and saving are in the
ratio 3 : 2. Her income increases by 10% .
Her expenditure also increases by 12% . By
how many % does her saving increase?
Soln: Detail Method: Let the Miras expenditure
and saving be Rs 3x and Rs 2x
Miras income = 3x + 2x = 5x
110 11

x
Increased income = 5 x
100 2
112 84

x
Increased expenditure = 3x
100 25
11
84
107 x
x
x
Increased saving =
2
25
50
107 x
7x
2x
Increase in saving =
50
50
7x
100 7% .
% increase in saving =
50 2x
Alligation Method:
Expenditure
Saving
12
x
(% increase in exp) (% increase in saving)

K KUNDAN
the no. of boys =

65 3
39 and
5

65 2
26 .
5
Alligation Method: Here alligation is applicable for money per boy or girl.
Mean value of money per student

the no. of girls =

3900
= 60 P
65

Boys
80

Girls
30

60
30
Boys : Girls = 3 : 2

20
65

Number of boys = 3 2 3 39
and number of girls = 65 39 = 26.
Ex. 6:A person travels 285 km in 6 hours in two
stages. In the first part of the journey, he
travels by bus at the speed of 40 km per hr.
In the second part of the journey, he travels by train at the speed of 55 km per hr.
How much distance did he travel by train?
Soln: Detail Method: Let the person travels for x
hours by the train.
Time for which he travels by bus = (6 x)

10
(% increase in income)
3

2 (given)

We get two values of x, 7 and 13. But to get

a viable answer, we must keep in mind that
the central value (10 ) must lie between x
and 12. Thus the value of x should be 7 and
not 13.
required % increase = 7%
Ex. 8: A trader has 50 kg of pulses, part of which
he sells at 8% profit and the rest at 18%
profit. He gains 14% on the whole. What is
the quantity sold at 18% profit?
Soln: Detail Method: Let the quantity sold at
18% profit be x kg. Then the quantity sold
at 8% profit will be (50 x) kg.
For a matter of convenience suppose that
the price of pulse is 1 rupee per kg.
Then price of x kg pulse = Rs x and price of
(50 x) kg pulse = Rs (50 x)
Now we get an equation,
18% of x + 8% of (50 x) = 14% of 50
18x + 8(50 x) = 14 50
10x = 300
x = 30
By Alligation Method:
I Part
II Part
8% profit
18% profit
14%
(mean profit)
4%
6%
=4:6=2:3
Therefore the quantity sold at 18% profit =
50
3 30 kg.
23
Ex. 9: In a zoo, there are rabbits and pigeons. If
heads are counted, there are 200 and if legs
are counted, there are 580. How many pigeons are there?
Soln: Detail Method: Let the no. of rabbits be R
and the pigeons be P.
According to the question,
R + P = 200 ..... (i) and
4R + 2P = 580 .... (ii)
[ Rabbits are 4-legged creatures and pigeons are 2-legged creatures.]
From solving eqn (i) and (ii) we get
R = 90, and P = 110
No. of rabbits = 90 and
No. of pigeons = 110.
Alligation Method: Rule of Alligation is
applicable on number of legs per head.
Average number of legs per head

580 29

200 10

Rabbit

Pigeons
2

4
29
10

11
10

9
10

Rabbit : Pigeons = 9 : 11
200

Number of pigeons = 9 11 11 110

Ex. 10: In an alloy, zinc and copper are in the
ratio 1 : 2. In the second alloy the same
elements are in the ratio 2 : 3. In what ratio should these two alloys be mixed to form
a new alloy in which the two elements are
in ratio 5 : 8?
Soln: Detail Method: Let them be mixed in the
ratio x : y
Then, in 1st alloy, Zinc =
Copper =

x
and
3

2x
3

2nd alloy, Zinc

Now, we have

2y
3y
and Copper
5
5

x 2y 2x 3y

=5:8
3 5 3
5

5x 6y
5

x 9y 8

or, 40x 48y 50x 45y

x
3
y 10
Thus, the required ratio = 3 : 10.
By Method of Alligation:
You must know that we can apply this rule
over the fractional value of either zinc or
copper. Let us consider the fractional value
of zinc.
1st alloy
2nd alloy

or, 10x = 3y

1
3

2
5
5 (mixture)
13

1
65

2
39

Therefore, they should be mixed in the ratio

1 2
1 39 3
:

or,
or 3 : 10
65 39
65 2 10

Note: Now, we try to solve it by taking fractional

value of Copper.
1st alloy
2nd alloy
2
3

3
5
8
13

1
2
65
39
Therefore, they should be mixed in the ra1 2
1 39 3
:

or,
or, 3 : 10
65 39
65 2 10
Ex. 11: Jayshree purchased 150 kg of wheat at
the rate of Rs 7 per kg. She sold 50 kg at a
profit of 10% . At what rate per kg should
she sell the remaining to get a profit of 20%
on the total deal?
Soln: Detail Method:
Selling price of 150 kg wheat at 20% profit

tio

120 = Rs 1260
150 7

100
Selling price of 50 kg wheat at 10% profit

an increase of 15% . By what per cent did

the weight of Shyam increase?
Soln: The overall % increase in the weight of Ram
& Shyam is the weighted mean of percentage increase in the weight of Ram &
Shyam.
Alligation Method:
Ram
Shyam
10%
x%
15%
4
5 (given)
By the rule of alligation
x 15 4
or, x 15 = 4 x = 19
15 10 5
Ex. 13: A trader has 50 kg of rice, a part of which
he sells at 14% profit and the rest at 6%
loss. On the whole his loss is 4% . What is
the quantity sold at 14% profit and that at
6% loss?
Soln: Detail Method: Let the quantity sold at 14%
profit be x kg. Then the quantity sold at 6%
loss will be (50 x) kg.
For a matter of convenience suppose that
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.
Alligation Method:
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
quantity sold at 14% profit

K KUNDAN
110 = Rs 385
50 7

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
x
7.7
8.4
x 8.4
x 8.4 : 0.7

0.7

x 8.4 1
x 8.4 0.35
0.7
2

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. Rams weight increases by 10% and the total weight of Ram
and Shyam together becomes 82.8 kg, with

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,
5 marks are allotted for every correct answer
and 2 marks are deducted for every wrong
answer. After attempting all the 90 questions
student got the answer. After attempting all
the 90 questions student got the total of 387
marks. Find the number of questions that he
attempted wrong.
1) 18
2) 36
3) 9
4) 27
2. A sum of Rs 18000 is lent out into two parts @
5% and 8% simple interest. Such that simple
interest on the whole sum at the end of 2
years is Rs 1944. Find the sum that is lent
out @ 5% simple interest.
1) Rs 15600
2) Rs 17200
3) Rs 14400
4) None of these
3. Two bicycle are bought for Rs 2000. The first
bicycle was sold at the profit of 7.5% and the
second bicycle was sold at the loss of 5% . Find
the overall % gain in the whole transaction
is 5% price of bicycle which was sold at the
loss of 5% .
1) Rs 900
2) Rs 400
3) Rs 800
4) Rs 1200
4. A person has Rs 5000. He invests a part of it
at 3% per annum and the remainder at 8%
per annum simple interest. His total income
in 3 years is Rs 750. Find the sum invested
at different rates of interest.
1) 3500, 1500
2) 3000, 2000
3) 3800, 1200
4) None of these
5. A person covers a distance of 100 km in 10
hours. Partly by walking at 7 km/hr and rest
by running at 12 km/hr. Find the distance
covered while he was running.
1) 64 km
2) 84 km
3) 72 km
4) None of these
6. In an engineering college the average salary
of all engineering graduate from Mechanical
trade is 2.45 lac per annum and the engineering graduate from electronics trade is 3.56
lacs per annum. The average salary of all
mechanical and electronics graduate is 3.12
lacs per annum. Find the least number of
electronics graduate passing out from this
institute.

1) 59
1) 43
3) 67
4) Cant be determined
7. The percentage share of Skoda Auto among
all auto companies in year 2004-05, and 200506 be 1.33% and 1.1% respectively. But the
overall share for the period 2004-06 be 1.21% .
Fin d th e ratio of sale of all the auto
compabnies for year 2004-05 to 2005-06.
1) 11 : 12
2) 9 : 10
3) 7 : 8
4) Cant say
8. A shopkeeper has 50 kgs of rice. He sells a
part of it at 20% profit and the rest at 40%
profit. If he gain 25% on the whole, find the
quantity of each part.
1) 39 kg, 11 kg
2) 37.5 kg, 12.5 kg
3) 30 kg, 20 kg
4) None of these
9. A shopkeeper has 100 kgs of tea. He sells a
part of it at 20% profit and the rest at 5% loss.
If his overall profit is 10% , find the quantity
for each part.
1) 80 kg, 20 kg
2) 60 kg, 40 kg
3) 70 kg, 30 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.
1) 30 kg, 130 kg
2) 20 kg, 140 kg
3) 50 kg, 110 kg
4) None of these
11. A person buys two watches for Rs 1000. He
sells one at a loss of 5% and the other at 20%
gain and on the whole he gains Rs 50. Find
the cost price of each watch.
1) Rs 600, Rs 400
2) Rs 750, Rs 250
3) Rs 650, Rs 350
4) None of these
12. A person bought two tables for Rs 2200. He
sells one at 5% loss and the other at 6% profit
and thus on the whole he neither gains nor
loses. Find the cost price of each.
1) Rs 1300, Rs 900
2) Rs 1150, Rs 1050
3) Rs 1200, Rs 1000
4) Rs 1400, Rs 800
13. A man bought a certain quantity of sugar for
Rs 8000. He sells one-fourth of it at 10% loss.
At what per cent profit should he sell the remainder stock so as to make an overall profit
of 20%
1) 32%
2) 19%
3) 25%
4) 30%

14. A man borrows a total sum of Rs 10,000 from

two sources. To one he pays 10% and to the
other 5% per annum simple interest. If the
total interest paid by him every year is Rs 700,
how much did he borrow at each rate of interest?
1) Rs 2500, Rs 7500
2) Rs 3000, Rs 7000
3) Rs 3500, Rs 6500
4) Rs 4000, Rs 6000
15. The average monthly salary of employees,
consisting of officers and workers, of an
organisation is Rs 3000. The average salary
of an officer is Rs 10,000 while that of a
worker is Rs 2000 per month. If there are total 400 employees in the organisation, find
the number of officers.
1) 50
2) 60
3) 80
4) 40
16. The average daily wages of staff, consisting
of supervisors and labourers, of a company is
Rs 50. The average wages of supervisors is
Rs 150 while that of labourers is Rs 40 per
day. If the number of supervisors is 15, find
the number of labourers in the company.
1) 160
2) 120
3) 150
4) 200

17. The expenditure and savings of an employee

are in the ratio 3 : 1. His income increases
by 16% but at the same time his expenditure
also increases by 20% . Find increase or decrease in his savings.
1) 4% increase
2) 7% increase
3) 6% decrease
4) 8% decrease
18. Rs 675 was divided among 75 boys and girls.
Each boy gets Rs 20 whereas a girl gets Rs 5.
Find the number of boys and girls.
1) 45
2) 55
3) 25
4) 35
19. A sum of Rs 70 is divided among 10 children.
Each boy gets Rs 10 whereas a girl gets Rs 5.
If the number of boys is 4, find the number of
girls.
1) 4
2) 6
3) 8
4) 10
20. A sum of Rs 12 is made up of 30 coins which
consist of either 50 paise or 25 paise. How
many are there of each kind?
1) 18, 12
2) 16, 14
3) 17, 13
4) 19, 11

K KUNDAN
Check your answer

1
8
15

3
2
1

2
9
16

1
2
3

3
10
17

2
2
1

4
11
18

Answers and explanations

1. 3; By the rule of alligation:
Correct
Wrong
5
2
4.3
6.3
0.7 9 : 1
No. of questions attempted wrong by the
1
90 9
10
2. 1; First of all, find the overall rate of interest.
Let R be the overall rate of interest.

student =

18000 2 R
1944 R 5.4%
100
By the method of alligation,
5.4% is the weighted mean of 5% and 8% ,

2
1
2

5
12
19

3
3
2

6
13
20

3
4
1

7
14

1
4

and the weight is the sum associated with

each of the rate of interest.
5%
8%
5.4%
2.6
0.4 13 : 2
Sum that is lent out @ 5%
13
18000 15600
15
3. 2; By the method of alligation:
I
II
7.5%
5%
5%
10
2.5 4 : 1
Cost price of the bicycle which was sold on

the loss of 5% =

1
2000 = Rs 400
5

4. 2; See soln (2)

5. 3; See example (1)
6. 3; 3.12 lacs is the weighted mean of 2.45 lacs
and 3.56 lacs and the weight is the number
of students passing out from each of the
institute.
Mechanical
Electronics
2.45
3.56
3.12
0.44
0.67 44 : 67
Clearly, 44 and 67 are prime to each other
it means that we cant further simplify the
antecedent and precedent.
The least number of electronics graduates passing out from the institute = 67.
7. 1; The overall % share 1.21% is the weighted
mean of share of Skoda Auto in year 200405 and 2005-06.
By the method of alligation,
2004-05
2005-06
1.33%
1.1%
1.21%
0.11
0.12 11 : 12
Therefore the total no. of vehicles in 200405 and 2005-06 is in the ratio 11 : 12.
8. 2; By alligation method:
20%
40%
25%
15
5
or
3:1
Quantity sold at 20% profit
3
50 37 .5 kg
3 1
Quantity sold at 40% profit
= (50 37.5) = 12.5 kgs
9. 2; By the alligation method:
+20
5
+10
10 (5) = 15
10
or
3:2
Quantity sold at 20% profit

or

1:7

Quantity sold at 10% profit =

kgs
Quantity sold at 6% loss = 160 20 = 140
kgs

3
100 60 kgs
32
Quantity sold at 5% loss = (100 60) = 40
kgs.
10. 2; By the alligation method:
+10
6
4
2
14

50
100 5%
1000
+20
+5
10

11. 1; Overall % profit =

5

15
or
3:2
CP of watch sold at 5% loss

3
1000 = Rs 600
32
CP of watch sold at 20% gain
= 1000 600 = Rs 400.
12. 3; By the alligation method:
5
+6
0
6
5
CP of the table sold at 5% loss

6
2200 = Rs 1200
6 5
CP of the table sold at 6% profit

5
2200 = Rs 1000
65
13. 4; Let the remainder stock be sold at x% profit.
10
+x
+20

x 20

1
160 20
1 7

Now,
or,

30

x 20 1 4

30
34
x 20 30

1
3

or,

x 20 10
or,
x 30 % profit
14. 4; By Alligation Method:
Average rate of interest

700 100
= 10,000 1 7% per annum
10%
5%
7%
2
3
Amount borrowed at 10%

2
10,000 = Rs 4000
23

Amount borrowed at 5%
3
10,000 = Rs 6000
23
15. 1; Rs 10,000
Rs 2000
Rs 3000
1000
7000

(Boys)
Rs 20

(Girls)
Rs 5

Number of officers 1000 1

Number of workers 7000 7

1
400 50
1 7
No. of workers = 400 50 = 350.
16. 3; Rs 150
Rs 40
Rs 50
10
100

No. of officers =

Number of supervisor s 10
1

Number of labourers
100 10
Total number of labourers = Total no. of supervisors 10 = 15 10 = 150
17. 1; Here expenditure and savings are two ingredients of income. Therefore, we can
write as under, assuming x% as increase
in savings,
(% increase in
(% increase in
Expenditure
Savings
20%
x%
16%
(% increase in income)
16 x
4
16 x 3

(given)
4
1

or,

16 x 12

or,
x 4%
18. 2; Average money per head (boy or girl)
= Rs

675
= Rs 9
75

(Average)
Rs 9
4

11

Number of boys =

4
75 20
4 11

Number of girls =
19. 2; (Boys)
Rs 10

11
75 55
4 11
(Girls)
Rs 5

(Average)
Rs 7
2

Number of girls 3

Number of boys
2
3
4 6
2
20. 1; Average value of 30 coins

Number of girls =

12 1
30

50 P

25P
40 P

15
or,

10
3:2

3
30 18
32
No. of 25P coins = 30 18 = 12.

No. of 50 P coins =