A mixture of 100 L contains kerosene and turpentine oil in the ratio 3 : 2. What is the minimum quantity of kerosene in litres (whole number) that should be mixed in the mixture so that the resulting mixture has 20% of kerosene ?

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UPSC CDS-I 2025 (Elementary Mathematics) Official Paper (Held On: 13 Apr, 2025)
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  1. 10 L
  2. 20 L
  3. 25 L
  4. Not possible

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 4 : Not possible
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Detailed Solution

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Given:

The initial mixture contains kerosene and turpentine oil in the ratio 3:2.

Total mixture = 100 L

Kerosene = (3/5) × 100 = 60 L

Turpentine oil = (2/5) × 100 = 40 L

Final kerosene percentage = 20%

Formula used:

Final kerosene in the mixture = Total mixture × (Final kerosene percentage / 100)

Additional kerosene to be added = Final kerosene - Initial kerosene

Calculation:

Let the additional kerosene to be added = x L.

Total mixture after adding kerosene = 100 + x L

Kerosene in the new mixture = 60 + x L

For 20% kerosene in the final mixture:

⇒ (60 + x) / (100 + x) = 20 / 100

⇒ (60 + x) = (20 / 100) × (100 + x)

⇒ 60 + x = 20 × (100 + x) / 100

⇒ 60 + x = (2000 + 20x) / 100

⇒ 100(60 + x) = 2000 + 20x

⇒ 6000 + 100x = 2000 + 20x

⇒ 6000 - 2000 = 20x - 100x

⇒ 4000 = -80x

⇒ x = -4000 / 80

⇒ x = -50

∴ It is not possible to achieve 20% kerosene in the final mixture. The correct answer is option (4).

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