[Brandonb]

This is similar and probably easier than the last one.

Bobby put a number of different colored balls (ex. 2 blue: 5 red: 1 purple: 7 green...) in a box. After a while he added 20 new balls (all of the same color as one color already in the box) to the box. However, the addition of the new balls did not change the general ratio of colors in the box.

How many different colors of balls are in the box? And how many of each color were in the box originally?

Hopefully I have done a better job this time.

[Guest]

Well... I'd have to say there's only one color, since I can't really think of any other scenarios... I'll have to come back later...

[Brandonb]

"Bobby put a number of different colored balls..."

[EventHorizon]

there are two different colors.

16 red

24 blue

(so in the ratio of 2:3)

He adds in 20 red.

36 red

24 blue

(the ratio is now 3:2)

[Brandonb]

there are two different colors.

16 red

24 blue

(so in the ratio of 2:3)

He adds in 20 red.

36 red

24 blue

(the ratio is now 3:2)

you got it! the general ratio remains the same!

[Guest]

If there were any factor of twenty balls in the box originally, of any number of colors then adding certain sets of twenty can keep the ratio the same.

ex. original box contains 1 red, 1 white, 3 blues (5 is a factor of 20)

1:1:3

add 4 reds, 4 whites, 12 blues

5 reds, 5 whites, 15 blues

5:5:15 = 1:1:3

Oops, I didn't read closely enough. My bad.

Edited for illiteracy.

Edited April 11, 2008 by toddpeak

[bonanova]

you got it! the general ratio remains the same!

I convinced myself there is no solution with three colors, and couldn't figure out why it was suggested this was an easy puzzle.

I made it too complicated. [doh]