291,805 views
36 votes
36 votes
Rebecca has scored 81, 83, and 87 on her first three

exams in her math class. If the standard 70,80,90
scale is used for grades and the exams are equally
weighted, what must her score on the final exam, m
, be in order to:
Write the solution set as an algebraic inequality solved for
the variable.
Get at least a C average on exams?
Get at least a B average on exams?
Get at least an A average on exams?

User Prasad G
by
2.9k points

1 Answer

19 votes
19 votes

Answer:

  • C average: m
  • B average: m
  • A average: m

Explanation:

You want to find the set of final exam scores Rebecca may get for a given grade average. Her scores so far are 81, 83, 87, and all are equally weighted.

Generic solution

Let m represent the exam score Rebecca must get for a final grade score of g. Then we have ...

(m +81 +83 +87)/4 ≥ g

m ≥ 4g -251 . . . . . . . . . . . multiply by 4 and subtract 251

C average

When g=70, we have ...

m ≥ 4(70) -251 = 29 . . . . . lower limit for C

When g=80, we have ...

m ≥ 4(80) -251 = 69 . . . . . upper limit for C, lower limit for B

For a C average, Rebecca must have 29 ≤ m < 69 on her final exam.

B average

When g=90, we have ...

m ≥ 4(90) -251 = 109 . . . . . upper limit for B, lower limit for A

For a B average, Rebecca must have 69 ≤ m < 109 on her final exam.

A average

For an A average, Rebecca must have 109 ≤ m on her final exam.

__

Additional comment

Just as no upper limit is put on the interval for an A grade, no upper limit is put on the interval for the final exam score for an A grade. Some exams offer "extra credit" questions, allowing one to achieve a grade greater than 100. We don't know if that is the case here. Rebecca will need that if she plans to obtain an A grade for the class.

User Rogeriolino
by
2.5k points
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