Question

A certain amount of money was divided among Pinu, Meena, Rinu, and Seema. Pinu received 20% of the total amount and Meena received 40% of the remaining amount. If Seema received 20% less than Pinu, the ratio of the amounts received by Pinu and Rinu is:

• A. \(4 : 5\)
• B. \(5 : 8\)
• C. \(3 : 5\)
• D. \(2 : 3\)

Hint:

In distribution problems, it often helps to assume a convenient total (like 100) when only percentages are involved. This makes computations easy and does not affect the final ratios.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Approach: Keep the total as a variable $x$ and chain the fractions of $x$ symbolically; Rinu is the closure of the equation (everything must add to $x$). This shows the answer is independent of the actual amount.

Step 1: Pinu $= 0.2x$. The amount left after Pinu is $0.8x$, and Meena takes $40\%$ of that: Meena $= 0.4 \times 0.8x = 0.32x$.

Step 2: Seema is $20\%$ below Pinu, so Seema $= 0.8 \times 0.2x = 0.16x$.

Step 3: Since the four shares exhaust the whole amount, \[ \text{Rinu} = x - (0.2x + 0.32x + 0.16x) = x - 0.68x = 0.32x. \]

Step 4: The $x$ cancels in the ratio: \[ \frac{\text{Pinu}}{\text{Rinu}} = \frac{0.2x}{0.32x} = \frac{20}{32} = \frac{5}{8}. \]

Final answer: $5 : 8$ — option 2.