In a mixture that uses 3 parts sugar to 5 parts water, what fraction of the mixture is sugar?

In a mixture that uses 3 parts sugar to 5 parts water, what fraction of the mixture is sugar?

• A. 7/24
• B. 2/8
• C. 3/8
• D. 9/24

Answer: (C)

Think of the mixture as 8 equal parts in total: 3 parts sugar and 5 parts water. The fraction of the mixture that is sugar is the sugar parts over the total parts, which is 3/8. This directly reflects the given ratio. An equivalent way to express the same proportion is 9/24 (scaled by 3), but the simplest form from the ratio is 3/8. Other fractions don’t match the 3:5 ratio, so they describe different mixtures.

Think of the mixture as 8 equal parts in total: 3 parts sugar and 5 parts water. The fraction of the mixture that is sugar is the sugar parts over the total parts, which is 3/8. This directly reflects the given ratio. An equivalent way to express the same proportion is 9/24 (scaled by 3), but the simplest form from the ratio is 3/8. Other fractions don’t match the 3:5 ratio, so they describe different mixtures.