Question

the ratio of boys to girls on a swimming team is 4 to 3. The team has 35 members. How many are girls?

Answer 1

15

Explanation:

You can rewrite this problem into an equation. You know that the ratio of boys to girls is 4 to 3, which is the same as:Cross multiply to get to 4G = 3BDivide both sides by 4, to isolate the G (# of girls).G = 3B / 4 = 0.75BSo you know that B + G = 35 (boys plus girls equals 35). Replace the G in this equation with the one you found above so that the entire equation only has one variable.B + G = 35B + 0.75B = 351.75B = 351.75B / 1.75 = 35 / 1.75B = 20However, you need to find G. So plug B back into one of the equations:B + G = 3520 + G = 35G = 15

Answer 2

You can rewrite this problem into an equation. You know that the ratio of boys to girls is 4 to 3, which is the same as:

`(boys)/(girls) = (4)/(3)`

Cross multiply to get to 4G = 3B
Divide both sides by 4, to isolate the G (# of girls).

G = 3B / 4 = 0.75B

So you know that B + G = 35 (boys plus girls equals 35). Replace the G in this equation with the one you found above so that the entire equation only has one variable.

B + G = 35
B + 0.75B = 35
1.75B = 35
1.75B / 1.75 = 35 / 1.75
B = 20

However, you need to find G. So plug B back into one of the equations:

B + G = 35
20 + G = 35
G = 15