Problem 5 · Swap and cancel on balances · 4 points
Made by AI and not reviewed by a real person.
An apple and a plum balance two pears. On another scale, an apple balances a pear and three plums. How many plums balance one pear?
- 3
- 5
- 4
- 2
- 6
Show a hint
- Both scales show an apple. Could you use one scale to replace the apple on the other?
- After the swap, count the plums beside the pear. Then imagine removing a pear from each side.
Show the answer and solution
Answer: C — 4
Replace the apple on the first scale with a pear and three plums. Now one pear and four plums balance two pears. Remove one pear from each side, leaving four plums balancing one pear. The answer is 4. Choosing 3 misses the plum that was already beside the apple.