If a man spends 5/8 part of money and again earns 1/3 part of the remaining money, what part of his money is with him now?

Appeared in: OSSSC Nursing Officer-2023

Explanation

The problem requires a sequential calculation involving fractions.
First, calculate the portion of money left after spending: 1 (whole) - 5/8 = 3/8.
Next, calculate the portion earned, which is 1/3 of the remaining 3/8. This is (1/3) * (3/8) = 1/8.
Finally, add the remaining portion to the earned portion to find the total: 3/8 + 1/8 = 4/8.
The resulting fraction 4/8 is simplified to its lowest terms, which is 1/2.

Option A: 3/8 represents the amount of money the man had left after spending, but before he earned more money. It is an intermediate step in the calculation, not the final answer.
Option B: 3/4 is equivalent to 6/8. This result might be obtained through a miscalculation, such as adding the remaining fraction to itself (3/8 + 3/8) instead of following the problem's steps.
Option C: 1/4 is equivalent to 2/8. This incorrect answer could be the result of mistakenly subtracting the earned amount from the remaining amount (3/8 - 1/8 = 2/8), instead of adding it.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Fractional arithmetic in a word problem as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Although not a clinical question, proficiency in fractional calculations is crucial for nurses, especially in medication dosage calculations to ensure patient safety.
This type of step-by-step logical problem-solving is a foundational skill for interpreting lab results, patient data, and care plans.
What if? If the man had earned 1/3 of the original amount instead of the remainder, the calculation would be 3/8 (remaining) + 1/3 (earned) = (9+8)/24 = 17/24, leading to a different outcome.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the initial state and the sequence of actions described in the problem (spending, then earning).
To simplify calculations, assume the total initial amount is 1 unit.
Calculate the result of the first action: determine the remaining fraction after spending (1 - 5/8).
Pay close attention to the wording of the second action. The earning is based on the 'remaining money', not the original amount.
Calculate the amount earned based on this remaining part (1/3 of the remainder).
Finally, combine the remaining amount and the newly earned amount to find the final total. Remember to simplify the fraction if possible.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full OSSSC Nursing Officer-2023

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.