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A container holds 200 litres of a solution of acid and water, having 30% acid by volume. Atul replaces 20% of this solution with water, then replaces 10% of the resulting solution with acid, and finally replaces 15% of the solution thus obtained, with water. The percentage of acid by volume in the final solution obtained after these three replacements, is nearest to

Solution

✅ Correct Option: 1

Initial solution: 200 L with 30% acid

Acid =60= 60 L, Water =140= 140 L

Since the same quantity is always added back after removal, the total volume stays at 200 L throughout. Only the acid percentage needs to be tracked.

When replacing x%x\% of the solution with water, the new acid % == old acid % ×(1−x100)\times \left(1 - \dfrac{x}{100}\right)

When replacing x%x\% of the solution with acid, the new acid % == old acid % ×(1−x100)+x%\times \left(1 - \dfrac{x}{100}\right) + x\%


Replacing 20% of the solution with water:

Acid % =30%×(1−0.20)= 30\% \times (1 - 0.20)

=30%×0.80= 30\% \times 0.80

=24%= 24\%


Replacing 10% of the resulting solution with acid:

Acid % =24%×(1−0.10)+10%= 24\% \times (1 - 0.10) + 10\%

=24%×0.90+10%= 24\% \times 0.90 + 10\%

=21.6%+10%= 21.6\% + 10\%

=31.6%= 31.6\%


Replacing 15% of the resulting solution with water:

Acid % =31.6%×(1−0.15)= 31.6\% \times (1 - 0.15)

=31.6%×0.85= 31.6\% \times 0.85

=26.86%= 26.86\%


26.86%≈27%26.86\% \approx 27\%

The percentage of acid by volume in the final solution is nearest to 27%.

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