Cement and sand are mixed in the ratio 3:2 by mass. A builder needs 60 kg of mixture. How many kilograms of sand are needed?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: D. 24 kg

  1. Step 1: The ratio has 3+2 = 5 parts, so one part = 60/5 = 12 kg. Step 2. Sand is 2 parts = 2 x 12 = 24 kg. Answer: 24 kg. Why not the others: 36 kg is the mass of cement, not sand; 30 kg divides by the sand part alone (2); 40 kg multiplies the total by 2/3 instead of by 2/5.

Practise more Calculations from tables (set 2).

Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed UCAT mock tests.