A farmer planted 5000 grains of maize and harvested 5000 cobs, each bearing 500 grains. What is the ratio of the number of grains sowed to the number harvested?

  • A 1 : 250 000
  • B 1 : 25 000
  • C 1 : 500
  • D 1 : 5 000
jamb 2004mathematics

The correct answer is C. 1 : 500

The ratio of the number of grains sowed to the number harvested can be calculated as follows:

Number of grains sowed = 5000 grains

Number of cobs harvested = 5000 cobs

Number of grains harvested = Number of cobs harvested × Number of grains per cob

Number of grains harvested = 5000 cobs × 500 grains/cob = 2,500,000 grains

Now we can calculate the ratio:

Ratio = Number of grains sowed : Number of grains harvested

Ratio = 5000 grains : 2,500,000 grains

To simplify the ratio, we can divide both sides by 5000:

Ratio = 1 : 500

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