Step 1: Understanding the Question:
Three individuals invest money for different durations. We need to determine the ratio in which the total profit should be divided after one year.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
In a partnership, the profit is distributed based on the "Effective Capital", which is the product of the invested amount and the time duration for which it was invested.
\[ \text{Profit Ratio} = (I_A \times T_A) : (I_B \times T_B) : (I_C \times T_C) \]
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Let the initial investments of A and B be \(3x\) and \(5x\) respectively.
Since the profit is calculated at the end of one year (12 months):
- A's investment duration (\(T_A\)) = 12 months.
- B's investment duration (\(T_B\)) = 12 months.
C joins after 6 months with an amount equal to B's investment.
- C's investment = \(5x\).
- C's investment duration (\(T_C\)) = \(12 - 6 = 6\) months.
Now, calculate the effective capital for each partner:
- A's effective capital = \(3x \times 12 = 36x\)
- B's effective capital = \(5x \times 12 = 60x\)
- C's effective capital = \(5x \times 6 = 30x\)
The profit-sharing ratio is the ratio of these effective capitals:
\[ \text{A} : \text{B} : \text{C} = 36x : 60x : 30x \]
Divide the ratio by their greatest common divisor, which is \(6x\):
\[ \text{Ratio} = \frac{36x}{6x} : \frac{60x}{6x} : \frac{30x}{6x} \]
\[ \text{Ratio} = 6 : 10 : 5 \]
Step 4: Final Answer:
The profit should be distributed in the proportion 6 : 10 : 5.