3 main ingredients ratio word problem

[dissolvedgirl]

Hello, I'm new here and need some clarification on how to start solving this ratio word problem. My textbook only provides the final answer and I would really like to understand the process, I feel like I am missing something really simple here...

The question states: "A manufacturer uses three main ingredients to make polish. These ingredients are melted wax, water and white spirits and they are used in the ratio 3/4:1(1/2):5/6. How many litres of each ingredient must be used in order to make 50 litres of polish? (give your answer correct to 2 decimal places."

I've converted those ratios to fractions (9/12:18/12:10/12, but that's where I get stuck, not sure if I am following the correct process. The final answers are 12.16L wax, 24.32L water, 13.51L white spirits.

Thanks in advance!

 

[MarkFL]

Hello, and welcome to FMH!

To make things simple, I would multiply through by 12 to state the ratio as follows:

[MATH]9:18:10[/MATH]
And so, what would be the fraction of the total, of each ingredient?

 

[dissolvedgirl]

That adds up to 37. My textbook has a very convoluted way of explaining things...

I see it now, hah! so then to obtain the answer, one multiplies each part (ie. 9/37) by 50.

Thanks!