ALLIGATION OR MIXTURE

IMPORTANT FACTS AND FORMULAE

Rule of Alligation:
If Two ingredients are mixed in a ratio , then
( Quantity of cheaper / Quantity of dearer ) = ( C.P of deare r ) – ( Mean price ) /( Mean
price ) – (C.P. of cheaper )
We present it under as
C.P.M.1 = Cost Price of First Materiel in a Mixture.
C.P.M.2 = Cost Price of Second Materiel in a Mixture.
C.P.M.3 = Cost Price of Mixture.
So,
C.P.M.1 : C.P.M.2 = ( C.P.M.1 – C.P.M.3 ) : ( C.P.M.2 – C.P.M.3 ).
OR,
(Cheaper quantity ) : ( Dearer quantity ) = ( d – m ) : ( m – c ).
m = mean price.
d = C.P of dearer.
c = C.P of cheaper.

Here is another important formula which is,

Consider a container contain x units, and from which we are taken out y units and replace it by
water.
After that n operation,
the quantity of pure liquid = [ x ( 1 – y / x )n ] units.

Mixture: Mixing of two or more than two type of quantities gives us a mixure.

Quantities of these elements can be expressed as percentage or ratio.

i.e. Percentage (20% of sugar in water)
Fraction ( A solution of sugar and water such that sugar : water = 1:4)

Alligation: Alligation is a rule which is used to solve the problems related to mixture and its
ingredient.

It is the rule that enables us to find the ratio in which two or more ingredients at the given price
must be mixed to produce a mixture of desired price.

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Alligation Rule

When two elements are mixed to make a mixture and one of the elements is cheaper and other
one is costlier then,

Here Mean Price is CP of mixture per unit quantity.

Above rule can be written as,

Then,
Cheaper Quantity : Costlier Quantity = (D – M) : (M – C)
Mixture of more than two elements.

This method is a bit tricky initially but if you practice it then it becomes quite easy.

If the mixture is of more than two ingredients, then write the prices of each ingredient below one
another in ascending order. Write the mean price to the left of the list. Now make couples of
prices in such a way that one price of the couple is below mean price and another price of the
couple is above mean price. Now find the difference between each price and mean price and
write it opposite to the price linked to it. This difference is required answer.

Don’t worry if you don’t understand above paragraph. Try to understand above paragraph with
the examples given below.

Some Shortcut Formulas

Rule 1

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If n different vessels of equal size are filled with the mixture of P and Q in the ratio p 1 : q1 , p2 :
q2 , ……, pn : qn and content of all these vessels are mixed in one large vessel, then

Rule 2
If n different vessels of sizes x1 , x2 , …, xn are filled with the mixture of P and Q in the ratio p1 :
q1 , p2 : q2 , ……, pn : qn and content of all these vessels are mixed in one large vessel, then

Rule 3: Removal and Replacement

If a vessel contains “x” litres of liquid A and if “y” litres be withdrawn and replaced by liquid B,
then if “y” litres of the mixture be withdrawn and replaced by liquid B, and the operation is
repeated ‘n’ times in all, then :

Rule 4:
p gram of ingredient solution has a% ingredient in it. To increase the ingredient content to b% in
the solution

.
SOLVED EXAMPLES
Ex. A mixture of certain quantity of milk with 20 liters of water of worth Rs 10 per liter. If pure
milk is of worth Rs 15 per liter, how much milk is there in the mixture ?

Solution : By rule of alligation

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So, Quantity of milk will be 40 liters

Ex. In what proportion must water be mixed with milk to gain 20 % by selling it at cost price ?

Solution : Let cost price of milk be Rs 1 per liter, then S.P of mixture is also Rs 1 per liter

Now CP of mixture be = 1 - ( 20 % of Rs 1 ) = 1 - ( 20 * 1 / 100 ) = 80 / 100 = Rs 4 / 5

Required ratio = 1 : 4

Question based on Mixture from two vessels

Ex. Milk and water are mixed in a vessel A in the ratio 5 : 3 and in vessel B in ratio 9 : 7 . In
what ratio should quantities be taken from the two vessels so as to form a mixture in which milk
and water will be in the proportion of 7 : 5 ?

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Solution : In vessel A, milk = 5 / 5 + 3 = 5 / 8 of the weight of mixture

In vessel B milk = 9 / 9 + 7 = 9 / 16 of the weight of mixture

Now, we have to form a mixture in which milk be 7 / 12 of the weight of the mixture

Now according to rule of alligation :

Ex. A goldsmith has two qualities of gold, one of 10 carats and another of 15 carates purity. In
what proportion should he mix both to make an ornament of 12 carats purity ?

Solution : By applying rule of alligations

So both qualities of gold should be mixed in the ratio of 3 : 2

Ex. 400 gm spirit solution has 40 % spirit in it , How may grams of spirit should be added to
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make it 60 % in the solution ?

Solution : By applying rule of alligations and mixtures

So, the two mixtures should be added in ratio 2 : 1

Example 1:
In what proportion must rice at 3.25 per kg be mixed with rice at Rs 3.80 per kg , So that the
mixture be worth Rs 3.50 a kg ?
Ans wer:
Formula applied :
Quantity of cheaper / Quantity of dearer = CP of dearer – Mean price / Mean price – CP of
cheaper
= 380 – 350 / 350 – 325
Quantity of cheaper rice / Quantity of dearer rice = 30 / 25 = 6 / 5
So , They must be mixed in the ratio 6 : 5 .

Example 2:
In a What ratio Wheat at Rs. 12.30 per kg be mixed with wheat 18.30 per kg so that the mixture
be worth Rs.15 per kg?
Ans wer :
Here we apply alligation rule that is
(Cheaper quantity ) : ( Dearer quantity ) = ( d – m ) : ( m – c ).

C.P.M.1=(Cost price of First material) = 12.30 = 1230

C.P.M.2=(Cost price of Second material) = 18.30 = 1830
M.P = (Mean price of both Material) = 1500

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So,
(C.P.M.1 – M.P):(C.P.M.2 – M.P)= (1500 – 1230):(1500 – 1830) = 270 : 330 = 9 : 11.
Required Ratio of both materials is 9 : 11.

Example 3:
A goldsmith has two qualities of gold one of 14 carats and another of 17 carats purity . In what
propotion should he mix both to make an ornament of 16 carats purity ?
Ans wer :
Formula applied :
Quantity of cheaper / Quantity of dearer = CP of dearer – Mean price / Mean price – CP of
cheaper
= 17 – 16 / 16 – 14 = 1 / 2
Quantity of cheaper rice / Quantity of dearer rice = 17 – 16 / 16 – 14 = 1 / 2
So , They must be mixed in the ratio 1 : 2 .

Example 1 :
400 gm of rice solution has 30% rice in it . How much rice should be added to make it 50% in
solution ?
Ans wer :
The already existing solution has 30% rice .
So the other solution has 100% rice ,
Formula applied :
Quantity of cheaper / Quantity of dearer = CP of dearer – Mean price / Mean price – CP of
cheaper
100 – 50 / 50 – 30 = 50 / 20 = 5 : 2 .
The two mixtures addede i ratio 5 : 2 .
required rice is = 400 x 2 / 5 = 160 gm .
Shortcut tricks :
solution ( required % value – present % value ) / ( 100 – required % value )
400 ( 50 – 30 ) / 100 – 50 = 160 gm .

Example 2:
In What ratio stone be mixed with rice so as to gain 40% by selling at C.P?
Ans wer : Let be
C.P of pure rice is = 1
and S.P of mixture is = 1
than % profit = 40%

C.P in a mix is = 1 / 140 X 100 = 5 / 7.

here we applied alligation formula
C.P.1 = 1(rice).
C.P.2 = 0(stone).

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M.P(mix) = 5 / 7.
= ( C.P.1 – M.P ):( C.P.2 – M.P ) = 2 / 7 : 5 / 7 = 2 : 5.
So Ratio between Rice and Stone to gain 40% Profit = 2 : 5.

From a container of wine, a thief has stolen 15 litres of wine and replaced it with same quantity
of water. He again repeated the same process. Thus, in three attempts the ratio of wine and water
became 343 : 169. The initial amount of wine in the container was:

A) 75 litres B) 100 litres

C) 150 litres D) 120 litres

Answer: D) 120 litres

Explanation:

It means

Thus,

Thus the initial amount of wine was 120 litres.

A jar was full with honey. A person used to draw out 20% of the honey from the jar and replaced
it with sugar solution. He has repeated the same process 4 times and thus there was only 512 gm
of honey left in the jar, the rest part of the jar was filled with the sugar solution. The initial
amount of honey in the jar was:

A) 1.25 kg B) 1 kg

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 C) 1.5 kg D) None of these
Answer: A) 1.25 kg

Explanation:
Let the initial amount of honey in the jar was k, then

Hence initially the honey in the jar = 1.25 kg

From a tank of petrol, which contains 200 litres of petrol, the seller replaces each time with
kerosene when he sells 40 litres of petrol(or its mixture). Everytime he sells out only 40 litres of
petrol(pure or impure). After replacing the petrol with kerosen 4th time, the total amount of
kerosene in the mixture is

A) 81.92L B) 96L
C) 118.08L D) None of these
Answer: C) 118.08L

Explanation:
The amount of petrol left after 4 operations

= 81.92 litres

Hence the amount of kerosene = 200 - 81.92 = 118. 08 litres

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A jar was full with honey. A person used to draw out 20% of the honey from the jar and
replaced it with sugar solution. He has repeated the same process 4 times and thus there was
only 512 gm of honey left in the jar, the rest part of the jar was filled with the sugar solution.
The initial amount of honey in the jar was filled with the sugar solution. The initial amount of
honey in the jar was:

A) 1.25 kg B) 1 kg
C) 1.5 kg D) None of these
Answer: A) 1.25 kg

Explanation:
Let the initial amount of honey in the jar was K, then

or

Hence initially the honey in the jar= 1.25 kg

From a tank of petrol , which contains 200 liters of petrol, the seller replaces each time with
kerosene when he sells 40 liters of petrol(or mixture). Everytime he sells out only 40 liters of
petrol (pure or impure). After replacing the petrol with kerose ne 4th time, the total amount of
kerosene in the mixture is

A) 81.92L B) 96L

C) 118.08L D) None of these

Answer: C) 118.08L

Explanation:
The amount of petrol left after 4 operations =

Hence the amount of kerosene = 200-81.92=118.08 liters

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From the 50 liters of milk, 5 liters of milk is taken out and after it 5 liters of water is added to the
rest amount of milk. Again 5 liters of milk and water is drawn out and it was replaced by 5 liters
of water. If this process is continued similarly for the third time, the amount of milk left after
the third replacement:

A) 45L B) 36.45L

C) 40.5L D) 42.5L
Answer: B) 36.45L

Explanation:
General Formula:

Final or reduced concentration = initial concentration

where n is the number of times the same operation is being repeated. The "amount being
replaced" could be pure or mixture as per the case. similarly ,"total amount" could also be either
pure or mixture. Here amount being replaced denotes the quantity which is to be withdrawn in
each time.

Therefore,

= 36.45 L

The average weight of boys in a class is 30 kg and the average weight of girls in the same class is
20kg. If the average weight of the whole class is 23.25 kg, what could be the possible strength of
boys and girls respectively in the same class?

A) 14 and 16 B) 13 and 27
C) 17 and 27 D) None of these
Answer: B) 13 and 27

Explanation:
Total no.of boys : no. of girls = 13:27

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 27 : 13

In the 75 litres of mixture of milk and water, the ratio of milk and water is 4:1. The quantity of
water required to make the ratio of milk and water 3:1 is

A) 1 litre B) 3 litres
C) 4 litres D) 5 litres
Answer: D) 5 litres

Explanation:
Total quantity of mixture = 75 litre

Milk : Water = 4 : 1

3 : 1

4 kg of a metal contains 1/5 copper and rest in Zinc. Another 5 kg of metal contains 1/6 copper
and rest in Zinc.The ratio of Copper and Zinc into the mixture of these two metals:

A) 49 : 221 B) 39:231

C) 94:181 D) None of these

Answer: A) 49 : 221

Explanation:
Copper in 4 kg = kg and Zinc in 4 kg = kg

Copper in 5 kg = kg and Zinc in 5 kg = = kg

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Therefore, Copper in mixture = kg

and Zinc in the mixture = kg

Therefore the required ratio = 49 : 221

A milk man sells the milk at the cost price but he mixes the water in it and thus he gains 9.09%.
The quantity of water in the mixture of 1 liter is :

A) 83.33 ml B) 90.90 ml
C) 99.09 ml D) can't be determined
Answer: A) 83.33 ml

Explanation:
Profit (%) = 9.09 % =

Since the ratio of water and milk is 1 : 11,

Therefore the ratio of water is to mixture = 1:12

Thus the quantity of water in mixture of 1 liter = = 83.33 ml

A can contains a mixture of two liquids A and B in the ratio 7 : 5. When 9 litres of mixture are
drawn off and the can is filled with B, the ratio of A and B becomes 7 : 9. How many litres of
liquid A was contained by the can initially?

A) 10 B) 20
C) 21 D) 25
Answer: C) 21

Explanation:
Suppose the can initially contains 7x and 5x litres of mixtures A and B respectively

Quantity of A in mixture left = litres.

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Quantity of B in mixture left = litres.

So, the can contained 21 litres of A.

How much pepsi at Rs.6 a litre is added to 15 litre of 'dew' at Rs. 10 a litre so that the price of the
mixture be Rs.9 a litre?

A) 5 B) 8

C) 10 D) None of these
Answer: A) 5

Explanation:
Let x litre pepsi is required.

(10-9)=1 : 3=(9-6)

Therefore

x= 5 litres

The ratio of water and alcohol in two different containers is 2:3 and 4:5. In what ratio we are
required to mix the mixtures of two containers in order to get the new mixture in which the ratio
of alcohol and water be 7:5?
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 A) 7:3 B) 5:3
C) 8:5 D) 2:7
Answer: B) 5:3

Explanation:

2 :3 4 :5 5 :7

5 : 3

Therefore, the ratio is 5: 3

From a container, 6 liters milk was drawn out and was replaced by water. Again 6 liters of
mixture was drawn out and was replaced by the water. Thus the quantity of milk and water in the
container after these two operations is 9:16. The quantity of mixture is:

A) 15 B) 16
C) 25 D) 31
Answer: A) 15

Explanation:

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K= 15 liters.

From a container of wine, a thief has stolen 15 liters of wine and replaced it with same quantity
of water.He again repeated the same process. Thus in three attempts the ratio of wine and water
became 343:169. The initial amount of wine in the container was:

A) 75 liters B) 100 liters

C) 150 liters D) 120 liters

Answer: D) 120 liters

Explanation:

It means

Thus ,

Thus the initial amount of wine was 120 liters.

The ratio of expenditure and savings is 3 : 2 . If the income increases by 15% and the savings
increases by 6% , then by how much percent should his expenditure increases?

A) 25 B) 21

C) 12 D) 24
Answer: B) 21

Explanation:

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Therefore x = 21%

The ratio of petrol and kerosene in the container is 3:2 when 10 liters of the mixture is taken out
and is replaced by the kerosene, the ratio become 2:3. Then total quantity of the mixture in the
container is:

A) 25 B) 30

C) 45 D) cannot be determined
Answer: B) 30

Explanation:
pool : kerosene

3 : 2(initially)

2 : 3(after replacement)

(for petrol)

Therefore the total quantity of the mixture in the container is 30 liters.

In a mixture of milk and water, there is only 26% water. After replacing the mixture with 7 liters
of pure milk , the percentage of milk in the mixture become 76%. The quantity of mixture is:

A) 65 liters B) 91 liters

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 C) 38 liters D) None of these
Answer: B) 91 liters

Explanation:
Milk Water

74% 26% (initially)

76% 24% ( after replacement)

Left amount = Initial amount

24 = 26

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