Question

Why multiply by 4 when solving the problem, "How many boys are there in a class of 52 when the ratio of girls to boys is 3 to 10?"

A) To find the total number of students in the class.
B) To adjust for the ratio of girls to boys.
C) To account for the number of girls in the class.
D) To find the average number of students per class.

Answer 1

To determine the number of boys in a class of 52 with a girls-to-boys ratio of 3:10, you need to multiply by 4.

Step-by-step explanation:

To solve the problem of determining the number of boys in a class of 52 with a girls-to-boys ratio of 3:10, you need to multiply by 4. This multiplication is necessary to adjust for the ratio of girls to boys. Here's how it works:

1. Begin with the given ratio of girls to boys: 3:10.
2. Add the ratio numbers together: 3 + 10 = 13. This represents the total number of parts in the ratio.
3. Divide the total number of students in the class (52) by the total number of parts in the ratio (13): 52 ÷ 13 = 4.
4. Multiply this result by the number of boys in the ratio (10) to find the number of boys in the class: 4 x 10 = 40.

Therefore, there are 40 boys in the class of 52 when the girls-to-boys ratio is 3 to 10.