Question

A strip mall in Dallas has store space in several different sizes. There are eight 300-square-foot stores, one 800-square-foot store, and one 900-square-foot store. Two of the 300-square-foot stores are vacant. The others are occupied. What is the ratio of vacant space to occupied space? What percent of the space is occupied?

Answer 1

Part 1: "What is the ratio of vacant space to occupied space?"
`(6)/(35)`

Part 2: "What percent of the space is occupied?" 85.37%

Explanation:

1st part:

Total square foot = (8*300) + (1*800) + (1*900) = 4100 sq. feet

Vacant Space = 2*300=600

Occupied Space = 4100 - 600 = 3500

Thus ratio of vacant space to occupied space =
`(600)/(3500)=(6)/(35)`

2nd part:

To find % of occupied space, we need to divide occupied space (in sq ft.) by the total square feet and then multiply by 100 (since we want the percentage):

`(3500)/(4100)=0.8537=85.37`

Occupied space is 85.37%