The ratio of the arithmetic mean of two numbers to one of the numbers is 5:8. What is the ratio of the smaller number to the larger number? Choose the correct choice from the following options:  A) 1:8  B) 1:6  C) 1:5  D) 1:4  E) 1:3
For two numbers, the arithmetic mean is the middle of the two numbers.   The ratio of the mean to the larger number is 5:8, thus the smaller number must have a ratio of 2.   The ratio of the smaller number to the larger number is 2:8 = 1:4.   The answer is 1:4.
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The ratio of the arithmetic mean of two numbers to one of the numbers is 5:8. What is the ratio of the smaller number to the larger number?