Directions: Study the table and answer the question that follows.

The table gives the total number of notebooks sold by five stationery counters on a particular day, along with the ratio of hardcover notebooks to softcover notebooks sold by each counter.

Stationery Counters	Total Notebooks Sold	Hardcover Notebooks : Softcover Notebooks
A	135	5:4
B	140	9:5
C	180	4:5
D	160	13:19
E	150	7:8

What is the ratio of the total softcover notebooks sold by counters B and C to the total hardcover notebooks sold by counters A and D?

The correct option is 15:14.

Step 1: Understand the given data
From the provided table, we have the total number of notebooks sold and the ratio of hardcover to softcover notebooks for each stationery counter:

• Counter A: Total = 135, Ratio (Hardcover : Softcover) = 5 : 4
• Counter B: Total = 140, Ratio (Hardcover : Softcover) = 9 : 5
• Counter C: Total = 180, Ratio (Hardcover : Softcover) = 4 : 5
• Counter D: Total = 160, Ratio (Hardcover : Softcover) = 13 : 19

Step 2: Calculate the softcover notebooks sold by counters B and C

For Counter B:
Total parts in the ratio = 9 + 5 = 14
Softcover notebooks = 5 parts out of 14

$\text{Softcover (B)}=140\times \frac{5}{14}=10\times 5=50$

For Counter C:
Total parts in the ratio = 4 + 5 = 9
Softcover notebooks = 5 parts out of 9

$\text{Softcover (C)}=180\times \frac{5}{9}=20\times 5=100$

Total softcover notebooks sold by B and C combined:

$\text{Total Softcover (B + C)}=50+100=150$

Step 3: Calculate the hardcover notebooks sold by counters A and D

For Counter A:
Total parts in the ratio = 5 + 4 = 9
Hardcover notebooks = 5 parts out of 9

$\text{Hardcover (A)}=135\times \frac{5}{9}=15\times 5=75$

For Counter D:
Total parts in the ratio = 13 + 19 = 32
Hardcover notebooks = 13 parts out of 32

$\text{Hardcover (D)}=160\times \frac{13}{32}=5\times 13=65$

Total hardcover notebooks sold by A and D combined:

$\text{Total Hardcover (A + D)}=75+65=140$

Step 4: Compute the required ratio
We need the ratio of total softcover notebooks sold by counters B and C to the total hardcover notebooks sold by counters A and D:

$\text{Required Ratio}=\frac{150}{140}=\frac{15}{14}$

Thus, the ratio is 15:14.