Allegation
(i) To find the mean or average value of mixture when the
prices of two or more ingredients which may be mixed
together and the proportion in which they mixed are given
(this is Alligation Medial); and
(ii) To find the proportion in which the ingredients at given
prices must be mixed to produce a mixture at a given price.
This is Alligation Alternate.
Note:
(1) The word Alligation literally means linking. The rule
takes its name from the lines or links used in working out
questions on mixture.
(2) Alligation method is applied for percentage value, ratio,
rate, prices, speed etc and not for absolute values. That is,
whenever per cent, per hour, per kg, per km etc are being
compared, we can use Alligation.
Rule of Alligation
if the gradients are mixed in a ratio, then
We represent it as under:
Then, (cheaper quantity) : (dearer quantity) = (d m ) : (m
c)
Solved problems:
Ex1: In what proportion must rice at Rs3.10 per kg be mixed
with rice at Rs3.60 per kg, so that the mixture be worth Rs3.25
a kg?
Solution:
By the alligation rule :
they must be mixed in the ratio 7 :3.
Milk and Water
Ex2: A mixture of certain quantity of milk with 16 liters of
water is worth 90 Peisa per liter. If pure milk be worth Rs1.08
per liter, how much milk is there in the mixture?
The mean value is 90 P and price of water is 0 P.
By the Alligation Rule, milk and water are in the ratio of 5 :1.
quantity of milk in the mixture = 5 16 = 80 liters.
Ex3: 300 gm of sugar solution has 40% sugar in it. How much
sugar should be added to make it 50% in the solution?
Solution:
The existing solution has 40% sugar, and sugar is to be
mixed ; so the other solution has 100% sugar. So, by alligation
method;
the two mixture should be added in the ratio 5 :1
Therefore, required sugar =
Mixture Containing 3 Ingredients
Example:
In what ratio must a person mix three kind of tea each of
which has a price of 70, 80 and 120 rupees per kg, in such a
way that the mixture costs him 100 rupees per kg?
Solution:
Here the prices of tea are 70, 80 and 120 And mean price is
100.
Here, prices LOWER than the mean are 70 and 80. And prices
HIGHER than the mean is 120.
Thus possible pairs which can give mean value of 100 is: {70,
120} and {80, 120}
Let us denote tea of Rs. 70 with t70, tea of Rs. 80 with t80 and
tea of Rs. 120 with t120
We apply the old alligation rule to ALL (two in this case) the
pairs
For the 1st pair (t70, t120)
t70:t120=20:30 Similarly, for the 2st pair (t80, t120)

r50:r95=15:30 r50:r95=15:30

Similarly, for the 2st pair (r60, r90)

t80:t120=20:20 t80:t120=20:20

Thus, Final ratio:t70:t80:t120=20:20:(30+20)

t70:t80:t120=2:2:5
r60:r90=10:20r60:r90=10:20

Thus, Final ratio:

Note:It's best to simplify the intermediate ratios at the end,
else you may get wrong answer.Here, if we had simplified the r50:r60:r90:r95=15:10:20:30
ratio to be, t70:t120=2:3
r50:r60:r90:r95=3:2:4:6
after first pair and t80:t120=1:1 after second pair.We could
have easily gone to calculate ratio to be, t70:t80:t120=2:1:
(3+1) or t70:t80:t120=2:1:4 which is different from the final
ratio (t70:t80:t120=2:2:5)

Mixture: Mixing of two or more than two type of quantities

gives us a mixure.
Quantities of these elements can be expressed as percentage or
Mixture Containing 4 Ingredients ratio.
i.e. Percentage (20% of sugar in water)
Example:How must a shop owner mix 4 types of rice worth Fraction ( A solution of sugar and water such that sugar : water
Rs 95, Rs 60, Rs 90 and Rs 50 per kg so that he can make the = 1:4)
mixture of these rice worth Rs 80 per kg?

Solution:Here the prices of sugars are 50, 60, 90 and 95.

And the mean price is 80.Here, prices LOWER than the mean
are 50 and 60. And prices HIGHER than the mean are 90 and
95.Thus possible pairs which can give mean value of 80 are:
{50, 95} and {60, 90}

Shortcut Formulas for Mixture and Alligation

Let us denote rice of Rs. 50 with r50, rice of Rs. 60 with r60,
Rule 1
rice of Rs. 90 with r90 and rice of Rs. 90 with r95
If n different vessels of equal size are filled with the mixture
of P and Q in the ratio p1 : q1, p2 : q2, , pn : qn and content
of all these vessels are mixed in one large vessel, then

We apply the old alligation rule to ALL (two in this case) the
pairs

For the 1st pair (r50, r95)

Rule 2
If n different vessels of sizes x1, x2, , xn are filled with the
mixture of P and Q in the ratio p 1 : q1, p2 : q2, , pn : qn and
content of all these vessels are mixed in one large vessel, then
Rule 3: Removal and Replacement
If a vessel contains x litres of liquid A and if y litres be
withdrawn and replaced by liquid B, then if y litres of the
mixture be withdrawn and replaced by liquid B, and the
operation is repeated n times in all, then :

Rule 4:
P gram of ingredient solution has a% ingredient in it. To
increase the ingredient content to b% in the solution

Q.1 A 20 litre mixture of milk and water contains milk and

water in the ratio 3 : 2. 10 litres of the mixture is removed
and replaced with pure milk and the operation is repeated
once more. At the end of the two removal and replacement,
what is the ratio of milk and water in the resultant
mixture?

(1
17 : 3 (2) 9 : 1 (3) 3 : 17 (4) 5 : 3
)

Correct Answer - (2)

Solution:The 20 litre mixture contains milk and water in the

ratio of 3 : 2. Therefore, there will be 12 litres of milk in the
mixture and 8 litres of water in the mixture.

Step 1. When 10 litres of the mixture is removed, 6 litres of

milk is removed and 4 litres of water is removed. Therefore,
there will be 6 litres of milk and 4 litres of water left in the
container. It is then replaced with pure milk of 10 litres. Now
the container will have 16 litres of milk and 4 litres of water.

Step 2. When 10 litres of the new mixture is removed, 8 litres

of milk and 2 litres of water is removed. The container will
have 8 litres of milk and 2 litres of water in it. Now 10 litres of
pure milk is added. Therefore, the container will have 18 litres
of milk and 2 litres of water in it at the end of the second step.
Therefore, the ratio of milk and water is 18 : 2 or 9 : 1.

Shortcut.
We are essentially replacing water in the mixture with pure
milk.
Let WO be the amount of water in the mixture originally = 8
litres.
Let WR be the amount of water in the mixture after the
replacements have taken place.
 Let variety A cost Rs.20/kg, variety B cost Rs.24 / kg and
Then, = , where R is the amount of the mixture variety C cost Rs.30/kg. The mean desired price falls between
replaced by milk in each of the steps, M is the total volume of B and C.
the mixture and n is the number of times the cycle is repeated.

Step 1: Find out the ratio QA : QC using alligation rule.

Hence, = = Step 2: Find out the ratio QB : QC using alligation rule.
Step 3: QC is found by adding the value of QC in step 1 and
step 2 = 1 + 1 = 2
Therefore, WR = = 2 litres.
Therefore, the required ratio = 1 : 5 : 2
Hence the mixture will have 18 litres of milk and 2 litres of
water. If there are 2 kgs of the third variety in the mixture, then there
will be 5 kgs of the second variety in the mixture.

Q.2 In what ratio must a person mix three kinds of tea Note: This is a problem to be skipped, at least in the first go.
costing Rs.60/kg, Rs.75/kg and Rs.100 /kg so that the If you were able to solve at least 30 other problems in quant,
resultant mixture when sold at Rs.96/kg yields a profit of then you should look at this problem.
20%?

1:2:4 (2) 3 : 7 : 6 (3) 1 : 4 : 2 Q.4 How many litres of water should be added to a 30 litre
(4) None of these
mixture of milk and water containing milk and water in
Correct Answer - (3) the ratio of 7 : 3 such that the resultant mixture has 40%
water in it?
Solution:
The resultant mixture is sold at a profit of 20% at Rs.96/kg (1)7 litres (2)10 litres (3)5 litres (4)None of these
i.e. 1.2 (cost) = Rs.96 => Cost = = Rs.80 / kg.
Let the three varities be A, B, and C costing Rs.60, Rs.75 and Correct Answer - (3)
Rs.100 respectively.
Solution:
The mean price falls between B and C. 7:3 means 30% water

Hence the following method should be used to find the ratio in Added water which is 100%
which they should be mixed.
30% 100%
Step 1. Find out the ratio of QA : QC using alligation rule
Step 2. Find out the ratio of Q B : QC using alligation rule 40%
Step 3. QC, the resultant ratio of variety c can be found by
adding the value of QC in step 1 and step 2 = 1 + 1 = 2. (100-40) (40-30)

Q.3 A merchant mixes three varieties of rice costing

Ratio of milk to water is 6:1
Rs.20/kg, Rs.24/kg and Rs.30/kg and sells the mixture at a
profit of 20% at Rs.30 / kg. How many kgs of the second
variety will be in the mixture if 2 kgs of the third variety is So water add is 30/6*1=5
there in the mixture?
5 liter of water should be add
(1 (2
1 kg 5 kgs (3) 3 kgs (4) 6 kgs
) )

Correct Answer - (2)

Solution:
If the selling price of mixture is Rs.30/kg and the merchant
makes a profit of 20%, then the cost price of the mixture =
Rs.25/kg.
We need to find out the ratio in which the three varieties are
mixed to obtain a mixture costing Rs.25 /kg.
 container will have milk and water in equal proportions.
What is the value of x?

(1)6 litres (2)10 litres (3)30 litres (4)None of these

Correct Answer - (2)

Q.5 How many kgs of Basmati rice costing Rs.42/kg should
a shopkeeper mix with 25 kgs of ordinary rice costing
Rs.24 per kg so that he makes a profit of 25% on selling Solution:
the mixture at Rs.40/kg?
The best way to solve this problem is to go from the answer
choices.
(1
20 kgs (2) 12.5 kgs (3) 16 kgs (4) 200 kgs
)
The mixture of 60 litres has in it 24 litres of milk and 36 litres
of water. (2 : 3 :: milk : water)
Correct Answer - (1)

Solution: When you remove x litres from it, you will remove 0.4 x litres
Let the amount of Basmati rice being mixed be x kgs. As the of milk and 0.6 x litres of water from it.
trader makes 25% profit by selling the mixture at Rs.40/kg, his
cost /kg of the mixture = Rs.32/kg. Take choice (2). According to this choice, x = 10.

i.e. (x * 42) + (25 * 24) = 32 (x + 25) So, when one removes, 10 litres of the mixture, one is
removing 4 litres of milk and 6 litres of water.
=> 42x + 600 = 32x + 800

=> 10x = 200 or x = 20 kgs.

Q. 8 From a cask of milk containing 30 litres, 6 litres are

Q.6 how many litres of a 12 litre mixture containing milk
and water in the ratio of 2 : 3 be replaced with pure milk
so that the resultant mixture contains milk and water in
equal proportion?
drawn out and the cask is filled up with water. If the same
process is repeated a second, then a third time, what will
be the number of litres of milk left in the cask?
(1) 0.512 liters (2) 12 liters 3)14.38 liters (4) 15.36 liters

(1)4 litres (2)2 litres (3)1 litre (4)1.5 litres Correct Answer - (4)

Correct Answer - (2)

Solution:

Solution:
The problem can be solved by traditional method but it is
The mixture contains 40% milk and 60% water in it. That is
cumbersome process to do that. The problem is simple if its
4.8 litres of milk and 7.2 litres of water.
solution is simpler. Hence we will go for a simpler solution for
this kind of problem.
Now we are replacing the mixture with pure milk so that the
amount of milk and water in the mixture is 50% and 50%.That
There is a short cut method to find the Quantity of milk left
is we will end up with 6 litres of milk and 6 litres of water.
after nth operation
Water gets reduced by 1.2 litres.

It is given by { x * (x y/x) n } of the whole quantity, where x

To remove 1.2 litres of water from the original mixture
is initial quantity of milk in the cask y is the quantity of milk
containing 60% water, we need to remove 1.2 / 0.6 litres of the
withdrawn in each process and n is the number of process.
mixture = 2litres.

Q.9 A 20 litres mixture of milk and water comprising 60%

Q.7 A sample of x litres from a container having a 60 litre
pure milk is mixed with "x" litres of pure milk. The new
mixture of milk and water containing milk and water in
mixture comprises 80% milk. What is the value of "x"?
the ratio of 2 : 3 is replaced with pure milk so that the
 1.40 litres 2.20 litres 3.8 litres 4.16 litres Time ratio is 7:2

That means time taken by foot is 7 hours 7*8 =56

Correct Answer - 20 litres. Choice (2) Required Distance = 7*8=56 km

Explanatory Answer

Q.12 .A milk vendor has 2 cans of milk .The first contains

The original mixture comprises 20 litres of milk and water. 25% water and the rest milk. The second contains 50%
water. How much milk should he mix from each of the
Out of the 20 litres, 60% is pure milk. i.e., 12 litres is pure container so as to get 12 litres of milk such that the ratio of
milk and the remaining 8 litres is water. water to milk is 3:5?

When "x" litres of pure milk is added, we will have 12 + x A.6 litres B.1 litres C.8 litres D.7 litres
litres of milk in the new mixture.

And there will be 20 + x litres of the new mixture.

. (A) Milk in 1st can =
The question also states that this (12 + x) litres of pure milk
Milk in IInd can =
accounts for 80% of (20 + x) litres of the mixture.
Milk in Resultant mixture = 5/8
Therefore, 12 + x =
So,
Solving for x, we get x = 20 litres.

Q.11 A man travelled a distance of 90Km in 9 hours partly

on foot at 8 kmph and partly on bicycle at 17 kmph. Find
the distance travelled on foot.

A.46 km B.56 km C.62 km D.52 km 1 + 1 = 12

2 = 12

. (B) Average Speed = 90/9=10kmph So 1 = 6 liter

By Rule of Allegations

8 17

10 Q.13 In what ratio must a person mix three kinds of wheat

costing him Rs 1.20,Rs 1.44 and Rs 1.74 per Kg so that the
17-10 10-8 mixture may be worth Rs 1.41 per Kg?
 A.11:77:7 B.25:45:8 C.27:23:6 D.11:45:7

C. D.

. (A) In first case, We take 1. 20, 1.44 & 1. 41

EXPLANATION
Suppose the vessel initially contains 8 litres of liquid.
Let x litres of this liquid be replaced with water.

Q.14.A painter mixes blue paint with white paint so that

the mixture contains 10% blue paintn.In a mixture of 40
litres paint how many litres blue paint should be added so
that the mixture contains 20% of blue paint.

A. 2.5 litres B. 4litres C. 5litres D.2 litres

(C) Percentage of blue point, in pure Blue point =100%

So,

Q.16 Tea worth Rs. 126 per kg and Rs. 135 per kg are
mixed with a third variety in the ratio 1 : 1 : 2. If the
mixture is worth Rs. 153 per kg, the price of the third
variety per kg will be:

A.Rs. 169.50 B.Rs. 170

C.Rs. 175.50 D.Rs. 180

EXPLANATION
Since first and second varieties are mixed in equal
proportions.

So, their average price = Rs. = Rs. 130.50

8:1 So, the mixture is formed by mixing two varieties, one at Rs.
130.50 per kg and the other at say, Rs. x per kg in the ratio 2 :
Since 8 = 40 2, i.e., 1 : 1. We have to find x.
By the rule of alligation, we have:
1 = 5 liters

A vessel is filled with liquid, 3 parts of which are 3 3

water and 5 parts syrup. How much of the mixture
x 153 = 22.50
Q.1must be drawn off and replaced with water so that
x = 175.50
5 the mixture may be half water and half syrup?

A Q.18. In what ratio must a grocer mix two varieties of

B. pulses costing Rs. 15 and Rs. 20 per kg respectively
.
so as to get a mixture worth Rs. 16.50 kg?

A.3 : 7 B.5 : 7
C.7 : 3 D.7 : 5