Ratio Problems! Basketball team wins...

[wlkid9]

A basketball team had a ratio of wins to losses of 3:1. After the team won six games in a row, its ratio of wins to losses became 5:1. How many games had the team won BEFORE winning six games in a row?

Initially I did 3x and 1x to maybe get something or even 5x and 1x but I couldn't use the six games information from the question. I was very lost.

Answer: 9 Games

 

[Deleted member 4993]

A basketball team had a ratio of wins to losses of 3:1. After the team won six games in a row, its ratio of wins to losses became 5:1. How many games had the team won BEFORE winning six games in a row?
Initially I did 3x and 1x to maybe get something or even 5x and 1x but I couldn't use the six games information from the question. I was very lost.
Answer: 9 Games

First you need to define your variables - what is 'x' in your "..I did 3x and 1x to maybe get..."?

I would define

No. of games had the team won BEFORE winning six games in a row = 3x

Since, at this time the win:loss = 3:1

The total # of games = 4x

after 6 straight wins (assuming immediately after having record of 3:1)

The total # of games = 4x + 6

total loss = x

total win = 3x + 6

we know

(3x + 6) / x = 5

Solve for 'x' and continue....