Question

Celine observed that 80% of patrons at the local library liked reading sci-fi novels. If 35 patrons did not like reading sci-fi novels, how many patrons did enjoy sci-fi novels?

Part A: Write an equation in one variable that can be used to find the total number of patrons at the library? Define the variable used in the equation.

Part B: How many patrons enjoy reading sci-fi novels? Show your work.

Answer 1

Part A. Let the total number of patrons be x. Then the number of patrons that liked reading sci-fi novels is x-35. Now

x-35 is 80%

35 is 100%-80%=20%.

Mathematically, you can write a proportion:

`(x-35)/(80)=(35)/(20),\\ \\x-35=(35\cdot 80)/(20),\\\\x-35=140,\\\\x=175.`

Part B. The total nuber of patrons is 175, 35 did not like the sci-fi novels, then 140 liked.