WAEC - Mathematics (2015 - No. 35)

A farmer uses \(\frac{2}{5}\) of his land to grow cassava, \(\frac{1}{3}\) of the remaining for yam and the rest for maize. Find the part of the land used for maize
\(\frac{2}{15}\)
\(\frac{2}{5}\)
\(\frac{2}{3}\)
\(\frac{4}{5}\)

Explanation

Let x represent the entire farmland

then, \(\frac{2}{5}\)x + \(\frac{1}{3}\)[x - \(\frac{2}{3}x\)] + M = x

Where M represents the part of the farmland used for growing maize, continuing

\(\frac{2}{5}\)x + \(\frac{1}{3}\)x [1 - \(\frac{2}{3}x\)] + M = x

\(\frac{2}{5}x + \frac{1}{3}\)x [\(\frac{3}{5}\)] + M = x

\(\frac{2}{5}\)x + \(\frac{1x}{5}\) + M = x

\(\frac{3x}{5} + M = x\)

M = x - \(\frac{2}{5}\)x

= x[1 - \(\frac{3}{5}\)]

= x[\(\frac{2}{5}\)] = \(\frac{2x}{5}\)

Hence the part of the land used for growing maize is

\(\frac{2}{5}\)

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