Question

Three people Fatuma, Ali and Hassan contributed money to start a business.Fatuma contributed a quarter of the total amount and Ali two fifths of the remainder. Hassan’s contribution was one and a half times that of Fatuma. They borrowed the rest of the money from the bank which was $ 60,000 less than Hassan’s contribution, find the total amount required to start the business.
Fatuma ..1/4
Hassan .... 3/2 *1/4
Ali --- 2/5 of remainder

Answer 1

total amount invested ---- x
Fatuma's share = x/4
Ali's share = (2/5)(3x/4) = 3x/10
Hassan's share = (3/2)(x/4) = 3x/8

so far they have:
x/4 + 3x/10 + 3x/8
= 10x/40 + 9x/40 + 15x/40
= 37x/40

so they are still short 3x/40

3x/40 < 3x/8 by 60000
3x/40 = 3x/8 - 60000
-3x/10 = -60000

x = 200,000

check:
Fatuma's share = 50,000
Ali's share = (2/5)(150,000) = 60,000
Hassan = (3/2)(50,000) = 75,000
total so far = 185,000
short and borrowed from bank = 15,000

is 15000 less than 75,000 by 60,000 ?? , YES!