milk and ounces low fat milk. A general formula that works for both alligation "alternate" and alligation "medial" is the following: Aa + Bb = Cc. In this formula, A is the volume of ingredient A and a is its mixture coefficient (i.e. a= 3%); B is volume of ingredient B and b is its mixture coefficient; and C is the desired volume C, and c is its mixture coefficient. So in the above example we get: A(0.03) + B(0.005) = 8oz(0.01). We know B = (8oz-A), and so can easily solve for A and B to get 1.6 and 6.4oz, respectively. Using this formula you can solve for any of the 6 variables A,a,B,b,C,c, regardless of whether you're dealing with medial, alternate, etc. Three-Variable Alligation Alternate Suppose you were given $100 to buy 100 pieces of candy, with lolly-pops at 50 cents each, candy bars at $3 each, and large chocolate bars at $10 each. How many would you buy of each? In the sequence of steps below, refer to this table: Determine the average price of the candies, $1 Identify one of the types of candy that costs less than the average (called a "Simple") and pair it with one of the Simples that is higher than the average (in this case, there is only one of the lower-cost Simples, but you choose among the two higher-cost Simples). Subtract the lower Simple from the average (in this case, $1.00-0.50). Assign the 0.50 difference to the higher Simple in column A. Subtract the average from the higher Simple (in this case, $3.00-$1.00). Assign the 2.00 difference to the lower Simple in column A. Choose the other higher Simple (in this case, $10) and subtract the average from it. Assign the 9.00 difference to the lower Simple in column B. Repeat step 3, assigning the 0.50 difference to the higher Simple in column B. Reduce the ratio of the values in column A to their lowest common denominator, and assign that alligation ratio to the cells in column C. Reduce the ratio of the values in column B to their lowest common denominator, assigning that alligation ratio to the cells in column D. Add the values of column C together (in this case, 5); this is the total number of "parts of the whole" Copy the values of column C to column E Multiply the values of column D by