1

ALLIGATION OR MIXTURE
NATIONALISED BANKS
& IBPS PO/MT/SO
1.

In a mix tu re of mil k and w ater the

proportion of water by weight was 75% . If
in the 60 gms mixture 15 gms water was
added, what would be the percentage of
water in the new mixture ?
(1) 75%
(2) 88%
(3) 90%
(4) 100%
(5) None of these
(Indian Overseas Bank PO
Exam. 05.04.2009)

2.

3.

SBI PO EXAMS
1.

2.

3.

In 1kg mixture of sand and iron, 20% is

iron. How much sand should be added, so
that the proportion of iron becomes 5% ?
(1) 3 kg
(2) 4 gms
(3) 5 gms
(4) 6 kg
(5) None of these
(SBI Associate Banks
PO Exam. 14.02.1999)
The wheat sold by a grocer contained 10%
low quality wheat. What quantity of good
quality wheat should be added to 150 kgs
of wheat so that the percentage of low
quality wheat becomes 5% ?
(1) 150 kgs
(2) 135 kgs
(3) 50 kgs
(4) 85 kgs
(5) None of these
(SBI Associate Banks PO
Exam. 21.07.2002)
A grocer purchased 2 kg. of rice at the rate
of Rs. 15 per kg. and 3 kg. of rice at the
rate of Rs. 13 per kg. At what price per kg
1
should he sell the mixture to earn 33 %
3
profit on the cost price ?
(1) Rs. 28.00
(2) Rs. 20.00
(3) Rs. 18.40
(4) Rs. 17.40
(5) None of these
(SBI PO Exam. 26.11.2006)

(1)

4.

5.

The wheat sold by a grocer contained 10%

low quality wheat. What quantity of good
quality wheat should be added to 150 kgs
of wheat so that the percentage of low
quality wheat becomes 5% ?
(1) 150 kgs
(2) 135 kgs
(3) 50 kgs
(4) 85 kgs
(5) None of these

6.

10m
m 10

(2)

2m
m 10

(4)

5m
m 10

m
m 10
(New India Assurance
AO Exam. 25.10.2009)
When one litre of water is added to a
mixture of acid and water, the new mixture
contains 20% acid. When one litre of acid
is added to the new mixture, then the

(3)

INSURANCE EXAMS
1.

(LIC Assistant Administrative

Officer (AAO) Exam. 2006)
A man purchased 35 kg of rice at the rate
of Rs. 9.50 per kg and 30 kg at the rate of
Rs. 10.50 per kg. He mixed the two.
Approximately, at what price (in Rupees)
per kg should he sell the mixture to make
35 per cent profit in the transaction ?
(1) 12
(2) 12.50
(3) 13
(4) 13.50
(LIC Assistant Administrative
Officer (AAO) Exam. 07.06.2009)
To m litres of a m% solution of acid, x litres
of water is mixed to yield (m- 10)% solution
of acid. If m > 25, then x equals

1
resulting mixture contains 33 % acid. The
3
percentage of acid in the original mixture
was
(1) 20%
(2) 22%
(3) 24%
(4) 25%
(New India Insurance AAO
Exam. 22.05.2011)
Two barrels contain a mixture of ethanol
and gasoline. The content of the ethanol is
60% in the first barrel and 30% in the
second barrel. In what ratio must the
mixtures from the first and the second
barrel s be take n to form a mix tu re
containing 50% ethanol ?
(1) 1 : 2
(2) 2 : 1
(3) 2 : 3
(4) 3 : 2
(General Insurance Corporation
AAO Exam. 11.12.2011)
To x litres of an x% solution of acid, y litres
of water is added to get (x -10)% solution of
acid. If x > 20, then value of y is

(1)

x2
100

(2)

10 x
x 10

LEARN MATHS FROM S.K. RAJU (9811549822, 9811649822)

7.

10 x
10 x 2
(3)
(4)
x 10
x 10
(Oriental Insurance Company
AAO Exam. 08.04.2012)
A and B are two alloys of gold and copper
prepared by mixing metals in the ratio 7 : 2
and 7 : 11 respectively. If equal quantities
of the alloys are melted to form a third alloy
C, the ratio of gold and copper in C will be :
(1) 5 : 7
(2) 5 : 9
(3) 7 : 5
(4) 9 : 5
(Oriental Insurance Company
AAO Exam. 08.04.2012)

8.

A container has 30 litres of water. If 3 litres

of water is replaced by 3 litres of spirit and
this operation is repeated twice, what will be
the quantity of water in the new mixture ?
(1) 24 litres
(2) 23 litres
(3) 24.3 litres
(4) 23.3 litres
(5) None of these
(LIC Assistant Administrative
Officer (AAO) Exam. 12.05.2013)

LEARN MATHS FROM S.K. RAJU (9811549822, 9811649822)

SHORT ANSWERS

2.

2000
= 4000 gms
5
Required answer = 4000 gms - 1000 gms
= 3000 gms = 3 kg.
(1) Good quality content in 150 kgs of wheat
= 90% of 150 = 135 kg.
In new mixture, low quality wheat is 5% ,
so good quality wheat 95%
5% of the new mixture = 15 kg,

3.

15 100
= 300 kg
5
Good quality of wheat added
= (300 - 150)kg. = 150 kg.
(3) Mixture : 2 kg of rice at Rs.
15/kg + 3 kg of rice at Rs. 13/kg
Total weight = 2 + 3 = 5 kg
Total cost price = (2 15) + (3 13)
= 30 + 39 = Rs. 69
Cost price per kg of the mixture

x=

NATIONALISED BANKS
& IBPS PO/MT/SO
1.

(5)

l.
3.

(1)
(3)

SBI PO EXAMS
2. (1)

New mixture =

INSURANCE EXAMS
1.
3.
5.
7.

2. (4)
4. (4)
6. (2)
8. (3)

(1)
(1)
(2)
(3)

EXPLANATIONS
NATIONALISED BANKS
& IBPS PO/MT/SO
1.

(5) In 60 gm of mixture, Quantity of water

=

75
= 45gm
100
Quantity of milk = 15 gm
After mixing 15 gm of more water, Quantity
of water in the new mixture = 45 + 15
= 60 gm
Quantity of water in 75 gm of mixture
= 60 gm
100 gm of of mixture will contain

= 60

1
Selling price to get 33 % profit
3

10 33

60
100 = 80% of water
75

SBI PO EXAMS
1.

(1) Amount of iron in 1 kg mixture = 20%

of 1000 gms
20 1000
=
gms
100
= 200 gms
Amount of sand in mixture
= (1000 - 200) gms = 800 gms
Now, let the total mixture is x kg in which
iron is 20%
According to the question,
5% of x = 200 gm
5% of x = 200

5 x
= 200
100

200 100
gms
x=
5

69
= Rs.13.80
5

100

1
3 Rs 13.80

400
Rs 13.80
3 100
4
Rs 13.80 = Rs 18.40
3

INSURANCE EXAMS
1.

(1) Good quality content in 150 kgs of wheat

= 90% of 150 = 135 kg.
In new mixture, low quality wheat is 5% ,
so good quality wheat 95%
5% of the new mixture =15 kg
15 100
= 300 kg
5
Good quality of wheat added
= (300 - 150) kg. = 150 kg.
(4) CP of 65 kg of the mixture
= Rs. (35 9.50 + 30 10.50)
= Rs. (332.5 + 315) = Rs. 647.5

New mixture =

2.

647.5
Rate per kg of the mixture = Rs 65

647.5
135

Required rate =
65
100
LEARN MATHS FROM S.K. RAJU (9811549822, 9811649822)

4
3.

Rs 13.50/kg
(i) Tricky approach

Acid =

Acid =

m
m2
m =
100
100

x2
100

Water = x

m 2 100
New percentage = m x 100

x2
100

x2
100 100 = x - 10
x y

m2
= m - 10
m x
m2 - 10m + mx - 10x = m2
x (m - 10) = 10m

4.

x2
x y = x - 10

10m
x=
m 10
(4) If there be 1 litre of acid in 4 litres of
mixture, then in case I.
Percentage of acid

x2 = y2 - 10x - y (x - 10)

7.

1
100 = 20%
4 1
Case II,
Percentage of acid

Gold =

2
9
In 1 kg of alloy B,

2
100
1
100 =
= 33 %
6
3
3
Percentage
of
acid
in original mixture

= 25%
(2) By alligation,
Mixture-1
Mixture -II

Ethanol-

3
5

7
18

Copper =

5.

10 x
10 x
=
x 10 x 10
because x > 20
(3) In 1 kg of alloy A,

y=

Ethanol-

3
10

7
11
Copper =
18
18
Ratio of gold and copper in alloy C

Gold =

7 7 2 11
+ : +
= 21 : 15 = 7 : 5
9 18 9 18
(3) Suppose a container contains x units of
liquid from which y units are taken out and
replaced by water. After n operations, the
quantity of pure liquid

=
8.

2
1
1 3
= =
2 10 10 5
Required ratio

1 1
: =2:1
5 10
(2) In litres of solution,

=
6.

3 1
1
- =
5 2 10

= x 1 units
x

Remaining water
3

= 30 1
30

30 9 9
= 24.3 litres
100

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5
MODEL EXERCISES
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

several litres of acid were drawn off a 54 L

vessel full of acid and an equal amount of
water added, Again, the same volume of the
mixture was drawn off and replaced by
water. As a result the vessel contained 24
L of pure acid. How much of the acid was
drawn off initially ?
(1) 12 L
(2) 16 L
(3) 18 L
(4) 24 L
(5) None of these
37.85% and 92% alcoholic solutions are
mixed to get 35 L of an 89% alcoholic
solution. How many litres of each solution
are there in the new mixture ?
(1) 10 of the first and 25 of the second
(2) 20 of the first and 15 of the second
(3) 15 of the first and 20 of the second
(4) None of the above
(5) None of these
Three containers, A, B and C are having
mixtures of milk and water in the ratio 1 :
5, 3 : 5 and 5 : 7 respectively. If the
capacities of the containers are in the ratio
5 : 4 : 5, then find the ratio of the milk to
the water, if the mixtures of all the three
containers are mixed together.
(1) 51 : 115
(2) 52 : 115
(3) 53 : 115
(4) 54 : 115
(5) None of these
A chemist has 10 L of a solution that is 10%
nitric acid by volume. He wants to dilute
the solution to 40% strength by adding
water. How many litres of water must be
add ?
(1) 15
(2) 20
(3) 18
(4) 25
(5) None of these
5 L of water is added to a certain quantity
of pure milk costing Rs 3/L. If by selling
the mixture at the same price as before, a
profit of 20% is made, then what is the
amount of pure milk in the mixture ?
(1) 20 L
(2) 30 L
(3) 25 L
(4) 35 L
(5) None of these
How many kg of sugar costing Rs 5.75 per
kg should be mixed with 75 kg of cheaper
sugar costing Rs 4.50 per kg so that the
mixture is worth Rs 5.50 per kg ?
(1) 350 kg
(2) 300 kg
(3) 250 kg
(4) 325 kg
(5) None of these
The amount of water (in ml.) that should
be added to reduce 9 mL lotion, containing

8.

9.

10.

50% alcohol, to a lotion containing 30%

alcohol is :
(1) 5 mL
(2) 4 mL
(3) 3 mL
(4) 6 mL
(5) None of these
A person has a chemical of Rs 25 per litre.
In what ratio should water be mixed in that
chemical, so that after selling the mixture at
Rs 20 per litre he may get a profit of 25% ?
(1) 13 : 16
(2) 12 : 15
(3) 16 : 9
(4) 19 : 22
(5) None of these
50 g of an alloy of gold and silver contains
80% gold (by weight). The quantity of gold,
that is to be mixed up with this alloy, so
that it may contain 95% gold, is
(1) 200 g
(2) 50 g
(3) 150 g
(4) 10 g
(5) None of these
A bottle contains 3/4 of milk and the rest
water. How much of the mixture must be
taken away and replaced by an equal
quantity of water so that the mixture has
half milk and half water ?
(1) 25%

11.

12.

13.

1
(2) 33 %
3
(4) 50%

(3) 45%
(5) None of these
A mixture of 45 L of spirit and water
contains 20% of water in it. How much
water must be added to it make the water
25% in the new mixture ?
(1) 5 L
(2) 3 L
(3) 4 L
(4) 6 L
(5) None of these
In a mixture of 60 L, the ratio of milk and
water is 2 : 1. If this ratio is to be 1 : 2, then
the quantity of water to be further added is
(1) 30 L
(2) 20 L
(3) 40 L
(4) 60 L
(5) None of these
One test tube contains some acid and
another test tube contains an equal
quantity of water. To prepare a solution, 20
g of the acid is poured into the second test
tube. Then, two-thirds of the so formed
solution is poured from the second tube
into the first. If the fluid in the first test
tube is four times that in the second, what
quantity of water was taken initially ?
(1) 80 g
(2) 60 g
(3) 40 g
(4) None of these
(5) All of these

LEARN MATHS FROM S.K. RAJU (9811549822, 9811649822)

6
14.

15.

16.

One type of liquid contains 25% of milk,

the other contains 30% of milk. A container
is filled with 6 parts of the first liquid and 4
parts of the second liquid. The percentage
of milk in the mixture is
(1) 27%
(2) 31%
(3) 29%
(4) 33%
(5) None of these
A solution of sugar syrup has 15% sugar.
Another solution has 5% sugar. How many
litres of the second solution must be added
to 20 L of the first solution to make a
solution of 20% sugar.
(1) 10 L
(2) 5 L
(3) 15 L
(4) 20 L
(5) None of these
Mixture of milk and water has been kept in
two separate containers. Ratio of milk to
water in one of the containers is 5 : 1 and
that in the other container is 7 : 2. In that
ratio the mixture of these two containes
should be added together, so that the quantity of milk in the new mixture may become
80% ?
(1) 2 : 3
(2) 3 : 2
(3) 4 : 5
(4) 3 : 4
(5) None of these

17.

18.

Vijay purchased two different kinds of

alcohol. In the first mixture the ratio of
alcohol to water is 3 : 4 and in the second
mixture it is 5 : 6. If he mixes the two given
mixtures and makes a third mixture of 18
litres in which the ratio of alcohol to water
is 4 : 5, the quantity of the first mixture
(whose ratio is 3 : 4) that is required to make
18 litres of the third kind of mixture is
(1) 6
(2) 7
(3) 8
(4) 9
(5) None of these
Two casks of 48 litres and 42 litres are filled
with mixtures of milk and water; the
proportions in the two casks being respectively, 13 : 7 and 18 : 17. If the contents of
the two casks be mixed, and 20 litres of
water be added to the whole, what will be
the proportion of milk and water in the
resulting mixture ?
(1) 5 : 12
(2) 7 : 13
(3) 12 : 13
(4) 8 : 15
(5) None of these

LEARN MATHS FROM S.K. RAJU (9811549822, 9811649822)

SHORT ANSWERS
l.
3.
5.
7.
9.
11.
13.
15.
17.

(3)
(3)
(3)
(4)
(3)
(2)
(4)
(4)
(2)

2. (4)
4. (1)
6. (2)
8. (3)
10. (2)
12. (4)
14. (1)
16. (1)
18. (3)

1.

(3) According to question, if a container

contains y units of liquid and x units of
liquid is taken out. If this operation is
repeated n times. The final quantity of the
luquid in the container is

Then, (10 + x)
5.

EXPLANATIONS

x
1
x y

x = 15 L
(3) Let the quantity of pure milk be x L.
If 5 L of water is added to it, then cost of
(5 + x)L
= Rs (3x + 5)
Rs Profit = Rs 15
Given, 20% of 3x =15
3x
= 15
5
3x = 75
x = 25 L
The amount of pure milk in the mixture
was 25 L.
(2) Using Alligation Method,
Sugar I
Sugar II
5.75
4.50

6.

24 = 54 1 54

4
=1
100

x
24 4

=
1 =
54 9
54
2

x
2

1 =
54
3

x
1
=
54
3
x = 18 L
(4) Let x L of 37.85% of alcoholic solution
and (35 - x)L of 92% alcoholic solution are
required to get 35 L of 89% solution.
37.85% of x + 92% of (35 - x)
= 89% of 35
x = 1.94
1.94 L of 1st solution and 33.06 L of Ilnd
solution are there in the new mixture.
(3) By question ratio of milk and water

5.50 - 4.50
5.75 - 5.50
1.00
0.25
i.e., 4 : 1
Hence, the required quantity of Sugar I

2.

3.

4.

7.

8.

9 50 30

9 20
=
= 6 mL
30
30
(3) Selling price of mixture = Rs 20
Cost price of mixture

100
20 = Rs16
125
By the rule of alligation,

3
5
5
7
1
5

= 5 4 5 : 5 4 5
8
12 6
8
12
6
= 106 : 230 = 53 : 115
(1) According to question, quantity of nitric
acid
1
=1L
10
Water = 10 - 1 = 9 L
Let x L of water be added.

75
4 = 300 kg
1
(4) Required quantity of water

= 10

9.

So, required ratio = 16 : 9

(3) According to question, quantity of gold
80
= 40 g
100
Let x g of gold is mixed with this alloy.

in alloy = 50

LEARN MATHS FROM S.K. RAJU (9811549822, 9811649822)

8
Quantity of water in mixture

40 x
100 = 95
50 x

1
60 = 20 L
3
Let quantity of water to be further added
be x.

40 x
95
=
50 x
100
4000 + 100x = 4750 + 95x

10.

750
= 150 g
x=
5
(2) According to question,
Ratio of milk and water = 3 : 1

13.

1
Water = 100 = 25
4
Let x L of mixture is taken away, then

3x

quantity of milk left = 3

4

First test tube = (x - 20) + (x + 20)

x
and water left = 1 + x
4

Second test tube = (x + 20)

Given, 3 -

3- 1=

11.

2=

6x
4

x=

4
3

(x - 20) +

3x x
- +x
4 4

14.

20
45 = 9 L
100
Let x L of water must be added to make the
water 25% in the

2
1
(x + 20) = 4 (x + 20)
3
3

2
(x + 20)
3
3x - 60 = 2x - 40
x = 100 g
(1) According to question, milk in mixture

9 x
25
=
45 x
100
36 + 4x = 45 + x
3x = 9
x = 3L
(4) By question quantity of milk in mixture

2
60 = 40 L
3

25
30 270
+ 4
=
100
100 100

270 10
= 27%
100
(4) Let x L of second solution must be added.

For 10 parts =
15.

15 20 5 x
= 10
20 x
300 + 5x = 200 + 10x

Then,

9 x
100 = 25
45 x

1
3

x - 20 =

4
1
Required percentage =
100 = 33 %
3 4
3
(2) According to the question,
Quantity of water in the mixture

2
3

A/q,

3x
x
=1- +x
4
4

12.

40
1
=
20 x 2
20 + x = 80
x = 60 L
(4) Initially, let x g of water and Acid was
taken. Initially 1st process
First test tube = (x - 20) g
Second test tube = (x + 20) g
2nd process

Then,

100
= 20L
5
(1) Percentage of milk in first mixture

x =

16.

5
250
100 =
%
6
3
Percentage of milk in second mixture

7
700
= 100 =
%
9
9
Using Alligation method,

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9
18.

(3) In mixture A of 48 litres,

Milk=

20 10
: =2:3
9 3
(2) Using Alligation method,

So, required ratio =

17.

13
156
48 =
litres
20
5

7
84
48 =
litres
20
5
In mixture B of 42 litres,

Water =

Milk =

18
108
42 =
litres
35
5

17
102
42 =
litres
35
5
In the final mixture,

Water =

5 4 1
- =
11 9 99

4 3 1
- =
9 7 63

1 1
1 1
Ratio = 99 : 63 = : 7
11
= 7:11
Required quantity

7
18 = 7 litres
18

Milk =

156 108
264
+
=
litres
5
5
5

84 102 186
+
=
litres
5
5
5
Required ratio

Water =

264 186
:
+ 20
5
5
264 : 286 = 12 : 13

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