Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: 6 : 4 : 3
Explanation:
Introduction / Context: Problems that present chained equalities such as 2A = 3B = 4C ask you to express each variable in terms of a single common value and then reduce to a clean integer ratio. This checks fluency with proportional scaling and the use of least common multiples to clear denominators neatly.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach: Express each variable in terms of k, then remove fractions by multiplying all terms with the least common multiple of denominators. Finally, simplify to a primitive ratio (no common factor).
Step-by-Step Solution:
From 2A = k ⇒ A = k/2.From 3B = k ⇒ B = k/3.From 4C = k ⇒ C = k/4.So A : B : C = k/2 : k/3 : k/4.Multiply each term by LCM(2,3,4) = 12 to clear denominators.12*(k/2) : 12*(k/3) : 12*(k/4) = 6k : 4k : 3k = 6 : 4 : 3.Verification / Alternative check: Pick k = 12. Then A = 6, B = 4, C = 3. Indeed, 2A = 12, 3B = 12, 4C = 12—consistent.
Why Other Options Are Wrong: 2 : 3 : 4 and 3 : 4 : 6 reverse the required scaling; 4 : 3 : 2 inverts the correct order; 12 : 8 : 6 is an unsimplified multiple of the correct ratio.
Common Pitfalls: Forgetting to clear denominators, or assuming A : B : C equals 2 : 3 : 4 directly from 2A = 3B = 4C, which is incorrect because the coefficients multiply the variables.
Final Answer: 6 : 4 : 3
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