Mixtures and Alligations

Q.1 mock name : CDC PRO 10 - 2025

Two containers, each of 600 ml capacity, are filled with Sulphuric acid solutions — Container A
has 40% acid in the solution, and Container B has 25% acid in the solution. A certain volume of
solution is removed from Container A and replaced with an equal volume of solution taken
from Container B. After this exchange, the concentration of acid in Container A becomes 30%.
What is the volume (in ml) of the solution left in Container B?

Solution : Bookmark Answer key/Solution

Your Answer: 210
Correct Answer : 200
200Container capacity = 600 ml.
Container A initially: 40% acid ⇒ Acid = 0.40 × 600 = 240 ml
Container B initially: 25% acid ⇒ Acid = 0.25 × 600 = 150 ml
A volume x ml is removed from A and replaced by the same volume x taken from B.
After this exchange, Container A becomes 30% acid
⇒ Final quantity of acid in A = 0.30 × 600 = 180 ml
Acid removed from A when removing x ml = 0.40x
Acid left in A after removal = 240 – 0.40x
Acid added to A from B = concentration of B before transfer × x ml = 0.25x
Final acid in A = 240 – 0.40x + 0.25x = 240 – 0.15x.
According to the question, this is equal to 180 ml
240 – 0.15x = 180 ⇒ 0.15x = 60 ⇒ x = 600/0.15 = 400 ml
So 400 ml was taken from B and put into A.
Hence, the volume left in Container B is = 600 – 400 = 200 ml.
 Video Solution ()

Q.2 mock name : CDC PRO 09 - 2025

An oil merchant mixes two types of cooking oils - A and B. One litre of oil A weighs 900 g,
while one litre of oil B weighs 1.2 kg. The mixture is prepared in such a way that 750 ml of the
mixture weighs exactly 825 g. If the cost of oil A is Rs.60 per litre and oil B is Rs. 84 per litre,
what is the cost price (in Rs.) of 1 litre of the mixture?
Solution : Bookmark Answer key/Solution

Correct Answer : 76
Let the fraction of A (by volume) in the mixture be p, so the fraction of B is (1 – p).
According to the question, in 0.75 liter of mixture:
Volume of A = 0.75p
⇒ weight of A = 0.9 × 0.75p = 0.675p kg
Volume of B = 0.75(1 – p)
⇒ Weight of B = 1.2 × 0.75(1 – p) = 0.9(1 – p) kg
Given that total weight of 750 ml of mixture = 0.825 kg
⇒ 0.675p + 0.9(1 – p) = 0.825 ⇒ p = 1/3
Hence, price per liter of mixture = 1/3 × 60 + (1 – 1/3) × 84 = Rs.76.
 Video Solution ()

Q.3 mock name : CDC PRO 08 - 2025

There are two alloys - A and B - of copper and zinc. Alloy A contains copper and zinc in the
ratio 3 : 2. Alloy B contains copper and zinc in the ratio 5 : 3. Liam mixed x kg of alloy A with
(60 – x) kg of alloy B to make 60 kg of alloy C, in which the ratio of copper and zinc is 37 : 23.
If x kg of alloy A is mixed with 80 kg of alloy B, find the quantity (in kg) of zinc in the new alloy.

Solution : Bookmark Answer key/Solution

Correct Answer : 38
Fraction of Copper in Alloy A = 3/5
Fraction of Copper in Alloy B = 5/8
Fraction of Copper in Alloy C = 37/60
Let us write the equation for the total quantity of Copper in 60 kg of alloy.
3x/5 + 5(60 – x)/8 = 37
⇒ (1500 – x)/40 = 37 ⇒ x = 20 kg.
Now, 20 kg of A is mixed with 80 kg of B, so the total weight is 100 kg.
⇒ Quantity of copper = 3 × 20/5 + 5 × 80/8 = 62 kg
Hence, weight of zinc = 100 – 62 = 38 kg.
 Video Solution ()

Q.4 mock name : OPEN CDC 03 - 2025

Mixture-1 contains water and liquid A in the ratio 2 : 3. Mixture-2 contains water and liquid B in
the ratio 3 : 5. Mixture-3 contains water and liquid C in the ratio 1 : 4. The three mixtures are
combined in the ratio 5 : 4 : 3, respectively. From the combined mixture, 20 liters are removed
and replaced with 20 liters of pure liquid B. After this replacement, the quantity of water
equals the quantity of liquid B in the final mixture. What was the initial volume (in liters) of the
combined mixture before the replacement?

a. 170

b. 180

c. 190

d. 200

Solution : Bookmark Answer key/Solution

Correct Answer : 1
Let the quantity of total mixture be T liters.
Amount of each mixture in terms of total T :
Mixture 1 = (5/12)T ; Mixture 2 = (4/12)T = (1/3)T ; Mixture 3 = (3/12)T = (1/4)T
Initial amounts of water from each mixture:
Mixture 1 = (5/12)T × (2/5) = (1/6)T ; Mixture 2 = (1/3)T × (3/8) = (1/8)T ; Mixture 3 = (1/4)T ×
(1/5) = (1/20)T
Total Water = (1/6 + 1/8 + 1/20)T = (41/120)T
Initial amount of liquid B (From Mixture 2) = (1/3)T × (5/8) = (5/24)T = (25/120)T
After removing 20 L and replacing with 20 L pure B
Final quantity of water = (41/120)T × (T – 20)/T
Final quantity of liquid B = (25/120)T × (T – 20)/T + 20
Equating the two we get,
(41/120)T × (T – 20)/T = (25/120)T × (T – 20)/T + 20
⇒ 20 = ((41 – 25)/120)T × (T – 20)/T ⇒ T = 170 litres
Hence, the initial total quantity of the combined mixture was 170 litres.
 Video Solution ()

Q.5 mock name : CDC PRO 06 - 2025

A dishonest shopkeeper has a jar of pure honey. He removes 1/4th of the honey and replaces
it with syrup A. He repeats the process once more, removing 1/4th of the resulting mixture but
and replacing it with syrup B. Finally, he removes 1/4th of the mixture and adds 2 liters of
syrup A to the jar. At this stage, the ratio of honey to syrup A becomes 27 : 41. What was the
initial quantity of honey (in liters) in the jar?
Solution : Bookmark Answer key/Solution

Correct Answer : 4
Step 1 (remove 1/4th and add syrup A):
Honey left = 3H/4 ; Syrup A = H/4
Step 2 (remove 1/4th of mixture and add syrup B):
Honey removed = 3H/4 × 1/4 = 3H/16 ; Syrup A removed = H/16
So at the end of this step:
Honey remaining = 3H/4 – 3H/16 = 9H/16 ; Syrup A remaining = H/4 – H/16 = 3H/16 ; Syrup
B = H/4
Step 3 (remove 1/4th of current mixture and add 2 liters of syrup A):
Honey removed = 9H/64 ; Syrup A removed = 3H/64 ; Syrup B removed = 4H/64
So at the end of this step:
Honey remaining = 27H/64 ; Syrup A remaining = 9H/64 + 2 ; Syrup B remaining = 12H/16
Final ratio of honey and syrup A = 27 : 41
⇒ [27H/64]/[9H/64 + 2] = 27/41
⇒ H/(9H + 128) = 1/41
⇒ 41H = 9H + 128
⇒ H = 128/32 = 4 liters.
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Q.6 mock name : OPEN CDC 02 - 2025

Four flasks — A, B, C, and D — contain different quantities of acid-water mixtures. The

concentrations of acid in flasks A, B, C, and D are 48%, 54%, 70%, and 80%, respectively. When
all four mixtures are combined, the resulting concentration of acid is 60%. When only flasks B
and C are mixed, the concentration of acid is also 60%. What is the ratio of the quantities of
mixtures in flasks A and D?

a. 2 : 3

b. 3 : 5

c. 5 : 6

d. 5 : 3
Solution : Bookmark Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 4

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Q.7 mock name : CDC PRO 03 - 2025

A chemist has three types of acid solutions: Solution A contains 30% acid, Solution B contains
50% acid, and Solution C contains 70% acid. He wants to prepare 180 liters of a solution
containing exactly 54% acid by using Solution A and Solution C in the ratio 1:2, along with
some quantity of Solution B. In what ratio should the mixture of A and C be combined with
Solution B to obtain the desired 54% acid concentration?

a. 4 : 3

b. 5 : 3

c. 3 : 2

d. 2 : 1

Solution : Bookmark Answer key/Solution

Correct Answer : 3
Let’s assume total quantity of A and C = x liters
Then, B will be (180 – x) liters.
Also, A and C are in ratio 1 : 2.
⇒ So in x liters: A = x/3 liters and C = 2x/3 liters
A contains 30% acid and C contains 70% acid.
Concentration of acid in the mixture of A and C = 0.3x/3 + 1.4x/3 = 1.7x/3
Now, B has 50% acid and we are mixing (180 – x) liters of B with x liters of the above mixture
of A + C.
Required concentration of acid in the final mixture is 54%, which is 97.2 liters out of 180 liters.
⇒ 0.5(180 – x) + 1.7x/3 = 97.2
⇒ 1.7x/3 – 0.5x = 7.2
⇒ x = 7.2 x 3/0.2 = 108 liters
⇒ The quantity of B is 72 liters.
Hence, the required ratio = 108 : 72 = 3 : 2.
 Video Solution ()
Q.8 mock name : CDC PRO 01 - 2025

A barrel initially contains 60 liters of a solution that is 40% alcohol and 60% water. In step 1, a
certain quantity of the solution is removed and replaced with an equal quantity of another
solution that is 70% alcohol. In step 2, 20 liters of this new mixture is removed and replaced
with pure water. If the final mixture ends up being 40% alcohol, what quantity (in liters) of the
solution was initially removed in Step 1?

a. 24

b. 36

c. 40

d. 42

Solution : Bookmark Answer key/Solution

Correct Answer : 3
The 60 liter solution has 24 liters of alcohol and 36 liters of water.
Let x liters be removed initially in step 1.
Remaining alcohol = 24 – 0.4x + 0.7x = 24 + 0.3x = A liters (say)
The total quantity of mixture still remains 60 liters.
20 liters of this mixture is replaced with water and the final mixture has 40% alcohol.
So on removing 20 liters, the quantity of alcohol removed is 20A/60 = A/3
Remaining alcohol = 2A/3, which is 40% of the final mixture.
⇒ 2A/3 = 0.4 × 60 ⇒ A = 36 liters
Hence, 24 + 0.3x = 36 ⇒ x = 12/0.3 = 40 liters.
 Video Solution ()

Q.9 mock name : CDC FLEXI 14 - 2025

A juice vendor fills a large container of 50 litres capacity using three different taps. The rate of
flow through each tap is 1 litre per minute. The first tap pours pure orange juice, the second
tap pours pure water, and the third tap pours a mixture of juice and water in which the ratio of
juice to water is 2 : 3. At any given time, only one of the three taps is opened. Each tap is kept
open for exactly 5 minute and after that one of the other two taps are opened. The ratio of
juice and water in the large container after 50 minutes cannot be:

a. 2 : 3

b. 9 : 16

c. 6 : 19

d. 21 : 29
Solution : Bookmark Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 3
Check the options.
Option (1): If the ratio of juice and water is 2 : 3.
So, the quantity of juice and water are 20 litres and 30 litres.
It will come when first tap opens for 10 minutes, second tap opens for 15 minutes and third
tap opens for 25 minutes.
Hence, it is possible.
Option (2): If the ratio of juice and water is 9 : 16.
So, the quantities of juice and water are 18 litres and 32 litres.
It will come when first tap opens 10 minutes, second tap opens 20 minutes and third tap
opens 20 minutes.
Hence, it is also possible.
Option (3): If the ratio of juice and water is 6 : 19.
So the quantities of juice and water are 12 litres and 38 litres.
But, in 50 minutes, water quantity can be at most 40 litres (when we take second tap for 25
minutes and third tap for 25 minutes).
If we reduce 5 minutes from third tap, the quantity of water can be 37 litres, but not 38 litres in
any case.
Hence it is not possible.
Option (4): If the ratio of juice and water is 21 : 29.
So the quantities of juice and water are 21 litres and 29 litres.
It will come when first tap opens for 15 minutes, second tap for 20 minutes and third tap for
15 minutes.
So it is also possible.
Hence, the ratio that cannot occur is Option (3): 6 : 19.
 Video Solution ()

Q.10 mock name : CDC FLEXI 11 - 2025

Three sugar solutions P, Q, and R have strengths x%, y%, and z%, respectively. When P, Q, and R
are mixed in the ratio 2 : 3 : 5, the resulting mixture has a strength of 25%. When they are
mixed in the reverse ratio 5 : 3 : 2, the resulting mixture has a strength of 35%. If a solution S is
prepared by mixing Q and R in the ratio 6 : 25, what is the ratio of the strength of S to that of P?

a. 4 : 11

b. 11 : 31

c. 31 : 59

d. 11 : 25
Solution : Bookmark Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 2
According to the question:
Mixing P : Q : R in the ratio 2 : 3 : 5 we get, (2x + 3y + 5z)/10 = 25 …(i)
Mixing P : Q : R in the ratio 5 : 3 : 2 we get, (5x + 3y + 2z)/10 = 35 …(ii)
From (i) and (ii) we get, 3x – 3z = 100 ⇒ x – z = 100/3 ⇒ z = x – 100/3
Substitute z in terms of x in (i),
(2x + 3y + 5x – 500/3) = 250 ⇒ y = (1250 – 21x)/9
Let us compute the strength of solution S.
Strength of S = (6y + 25z)/31 = [6(1250 – 21x)/9 + 25(x – 100/3)]/31 = 11x/31
Hence, required ratio of strengths of S : P = 11x/31 : x = 11 : 31.
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Q.11 mock name : CDC FLEXI 07 - 2025

Rishabh is working on an ayurvedic cough remedy. He prepares Mixture A by mixing ginger

extract and spices in the ratio 4 : 1. He prepares Mixture B by mixing spices and honey in the
ratio 3 : 2. He then mixes Mixture A and Mixture B in the ratio 5 : 3 to create Mixture C. Finally,
he adds three parts of hot water to one part of Mixture C to make a drink. What is the
percentage of spices in the final drink?

a. 7.5%

b. 8.75%

c. 10.25%

d. 17.5%

Solution : Bookmark Answer key/Solution

Correct Answer : 2
Fraction of spices in Mixture A = 1/5
Fraction of spices in Mixture B = 3/5
Given that 5 units of Mixture A is mixed with 3 units of Mixture B to prepare Mixture C.
So quantity of spices in Mixture C = 5 × 1/5 + 3 × 3/5 = 2.8 units
Now, 8 units of Mixture C are mixed with 24 units of hot water.
Hence, the percentage of spices in the drink = 2.8/32 × 100 = 8.75%.
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Q.12 mock name : OPEN CDC 01 - 2025

Three mixtures—A, B, and C—contain milk and water in the ratios 5 : 3, 3 : 2, and 7 : 5,
respectively. Equal quantities of these three mixtures are combined to form a new mixture, D.
If 360 liters of mixture D is taken and 40 liters of milk is added to it, what will be the final
concentration of milk in the resulting solution?

a. 35.75%

b. 45.75%

c. 54.25%

d. 64.25%

Solution : Bookmark Answer key/Solution

Correct Answer : 4
In mixture A : milk = 5/8, water = 3/8
In mixture B : milk = 3/5, water = 2/5
In mixture C : milk = 7/12, water = 5/12
Now, LCM of 8, 5, 12 = 120
In 360 liters of mixture D, Mixture A = Mixture B = Mixture C = 360/3 = 120 liters
So the quantity of milk in the mixture = (75 + 72 + 70) + 40 = 257 liters
Total quantity of mixture = 360 + 40 = 400 liters
Hence, the percentage of milk in the mixture = 257/400 × 100 = 64.25%.
 Video Solution ()

Q.13 mock name : CDC FLEXI 05 - 2025

Twenty percent of a solution of milk and water is replaced with the same quantity of water.
This process is repeated for one more time. If the initial concentration of milk in the 150 liter
solution was 75%, what is the quantity of water (in liters) to be added finally to make the
concentration of milk 45%?

Solution : Bookmark Answer key/Solution

Correct Answer : 10
Final concentration of milk in the mixture = 75(1 – 20/100)2 = 48%
The quantity of milk in the mixture = 150 × 0.48 = 72 liters
So the quantity of water = 78 liters
According to the question, the final concentration of milk has to be 45%.
If 45% is 72 liters, then 100% will be = 72/0.45 = 160 liters
Hence, the quantity of water to be added = 160 – 72 – 78 = 10 liters.
 Video Solution ()
Q.14 mock name : CDC FLEXI 05 - 2025

A retail fruit vendor purchases two varieties of oranges at the rates of 15 oranges for Rs.180
and 18 oranges for Rs.144. He mixes the two varieties in the ratio 2 : 3 and sells the mixed
stock at a price of Rs.288 for 2 dozens. What percentage of profit or loss does he make?

a. 16(2/3)%

b. 20%

c. 33(1/3)%

d. 25%

Solution : Bookmark Answer key/Solution

Correct Answer : 4
The prices of the two varieties are:
Variety 1 : 180/15 = 12 per orange.
Variety 2 : 144/18 = 8 per orange
The two varieties are mixed in the ratio 2 : 3.
i.e., 2 oranges of variety 1 and 3 oranges of variety 2 are mixed.
The total cost price of the 5 oranges = (2 × 12) + (3 × 8) = Rs.48
Selling price of one orange = 288/24 = Rs.12 per orange
The total selling price of the 5 oranges = (12 × 5) = Rs.60
Hence, percentage profit = (60 – 48)/48 × 100 = 25%.
 Video Solution ()

Q.15 mock name : CDC FLEXI 04 - 2025

The percentage of milk by volume in three solutions A, B, and C form an arithmetic

progression in that order. If A, B, and C are mixed in the ratio 3 : 2 : 1 by volume, we obtain a
solution containing 50% milk. If A, B, and C are mixed in the ratio 6 : 5 : 4 by volume, we obtain
a solution containing 53% milk. What is the percentage of milk in B?
Solution : Bookmark Answer key/Solution

Correct Answer : 55

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Q.16 mock name : CDC FLEXI 03 - 2025

A chemist mixes chemicals M and N in the ratio 5 : 1 to prepare compound X, and he

separately mixes chemicals P and N in the ratio 7 : 3 to prepare compound Y. Then he
combines compounds X and Y in the ratio 3 : 5 to prepare compound Z. Finally, he mixes
compound Z with water in the ratio 4 : 1 to prepare a new solution. What is the percentage of
N in the new solution?

a. 11%

b. 16%

c. 18%

d. 20%

Solution : Bookmark Answer key/Solution

Correct Answer : 4
Let the volume of compound X be 300 ml, ⇒ M and N are 250 ml and 50 ml.
Let the volume of compound Y be 500 ml, ⇒ P and N are 350 ml and 150 ml.
After compounds X and Y are combined, 800 ml of compound Z has 200 ml of N.
According to the question, compound Z and water are mixed in the ratio 4 : 1.
⇒ On mixing 800 ml of compound Z with 200 ml of water we get 1000 ml of new solution.
Hence, the quantity of N in the new solution = 200/1000 × 100 = 20%.
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Q.17 mock name : CDC FLEXI 02 - 2025

A mixture contains 28% water. First, 10 liters of the mixture is replaced with 10 liters of pure
milk, increasing the milk percentage to 80%. If an additional 15 liters of milk is added, what
will be the new percentage of milk in the mixture?
a. 56%

b. 65%

c. 75%

d. 86%

Solution : Bookmark Answer key/Solution

Correct Answer : 4

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Q.18 mock name : CDC FLEXI 01 - 2025

A beekeeper was experimenting with a jar full of pure honey. To adjust the sweetness, he
removed 20% of the honey and replaced it with a sugar solution. He repeated this process four
times, gradually increasing the proportion of the sugar solution in the jar. After the fourth
replacement, only 1024 grams of honey remained, with the rest being the sugar solution. What
was the final quantity (in grams) of the sugar solution in the jar?

a. 1476

b. 1250

c. 2500

d. 1546

Solution : Bookmark Answer key/Solution

Correct Answer : 1

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Q.19 mock name : CDC Launchpad - 2025

A certain amount of water, say x liters, was poured into a 250 litre container and the remaining
portion of the container was filled with milk. Then 5x liters of this solution was taken out from
the container and 5x liters of water was poured into the container again. If the resulting
solution contains 45% milk, then the amount of water, in litres, that was later poured into the
container was:

Solution : Bookmark Answer key/Solution

Correct Answer : 125

Amount of milk initially = (250 – x).
Using replacement formula, 45% of 250 = (250 – x)(1 – (5x/250))
Solving above, we get x = 25 or 275.
Since 275 > 250 (volume of the container, x = 25).
Hence, the quantity of water later poured = 5x = 5 × 25 = 125 liters.
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