Unit 6 · Algebra
Jack and Sarah's Strawberries — Ratio Sharing
Lesson 2 of 12
Jack and Sarah share 12 strawberries; Sarah eats twice as many as Jack. How many did Sarah eat? This is the simplest form of ratio/algebra question: one variable, one multiplier, one total. The classic trap is option C (6) — just halving 12 — which ignores the 2:1 ratio entirely.
Sharing-in-a-ratio questions are among the most frequent easy algebra items in OC MR. They appear in the form 'X has twice / three times as many as Y; together they have Z — find one share.' Students who write a single equation (1 part + 2 parts = total) solve these in seconds.
The examiner is testing whether students can translate a ratio relationship into an equation and identify whose share is being asked. Option B (4) traps students who find Jack's share and stop. Option C (6) traps students who simply halve the total and ignore the ratio. Option E (24) traps students who double the total.
Two people (or groups) share a total. One has a multiple of the other. Students must set up parts (e.g. 1 part + 2 parts = 3 parts total), find the value of one part, then multiply to find the required share.
Best approach: Step 1: Sarah = 2 × Jack. Step 2: Jack + 2 × Jack = 12 → 3 × Jack = 12 → Jack = 4. Step 3: Sarah = 2 × 4 = 8. Check: 4 + 8 = 12 ✓.
Question
Jack and Sarah had 12 strawberries.
They ate all of them.
Sarah ate twice as many strawberries as Jack.
How many strawberries did Sarah eat?
Select an answer to see the explanation.
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