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In what ratio should water be mixed with milk to gain 16½% (i.e., 16.67%) by selling the mixture at the cost price of milk?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: 1 : 6 (water : milk)

Explanation:

Problem restatement
A vendor adds water (free) to milk and sells the mixture at the milk's cost price. What water:milk ratio yields a 16½% profit?


Concept/Approach
Assume 1 litre of milk costs Rs. 1. Add w litres of free water; total litres sold = 1 + w at Rs. 1 per litre.


Step-by-step calculation
Cost = 1, Revenue = (1 + w) × 1Profit = (1 + w − 1) = w ⇒ Profit% = w × 100%Given 16½% = 1/6 ⇒ w = 1/6Water : Milk = (1/6) : 1 = 1 : 6


Common pitfalls
Using rupee arithmetic instead of the simpler litre-based approach.


Final Answer
1 : 6

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