Unequal Sharing Using Multiples

When we share a box of apples and give the same number to Ann as to Bill, they will each get the same number.

When we share a box of apples and say "for every two that Ann gets, Bill gets one", Ann will get more than Bill.

Example

There are 24 apples in a box.

Ann and Bill share them out.

For every two that Ann gets, Bill gets one.

How many apples do they each get?

Answer

Every time Ann takes 2 apples, Bill takes 1 apple. 

That's 3 apples taken.

They need to do this 24 ÷ 3 = 8 times.

So Ann takes 8 × 2 apples (the 8th multiple of 2).

Bill takes 8 × 1 apples (the 8th multiple of 1).

Ann takes 16 apples and Bill takes 8.