Question

There were 642 students enrolled in a freshman-level chemistry class. By the end of the semester, the number of students who passed was 5 times the number of students who failed. Find the number of students who passed and the number who failed.

Answer 1

535 students passed and 107 students failed

Explanation:

Create a system of equations where p is the number of students who passed and f is the number of students who failed:

p + f = 642

p = 5f

Solve by substitution by plugging in 5f as p into the first equation, then solving for f:

p + f = 642

5f + f = 642

6f = 642

f = 107

So, 107 students failed.

Find how many students passed by multiplying this by 5:

107(5)

= 535

535 students passed and 107 students failed.