TITLE: proportion and ratio solving by m,n question
QUESTION [2 upvotes]: If $a/b = 1/3$ , $a/c=1/9$ and $a+b+c=26$ find $a,b,c$ 
I solved it by making in the first ratio 
$a=m$ 
$b=3m$ 
and in the second ratio 
$a=n$ 
$c=9n$ 
since $a=m , a=n$ then $m=n$ 
so $c=9m$ (since m=n) 
so we deduce that $a=m,b=3m,c=9m$ and we can solve it easily as equation 
but my teacher said it is wrong and I do not know why, can you explain ?, or is it right and my teacher is wrong?

REPLY [2 votes]: I see nothing wrong with your calculation, though it is a bit inefficient.  You don't need the $m,n$ for instance.  You could just write $$\frac ab=\frac 13\implies b=3a\quad \&\quad \frac ac=\frac 19\implies c=9a$$
Then conclude as $$a+b+c=26\implies a+3a+9a=13a=26\implies a=2, b=6, c=18$$
But you get there in the end.
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