SOLUTION: I can't wrap my brain around this word problem. Layoffs. 10% of the employees in the aerospace division will be laid off and 15% of the employees in the agriculture division will

Algebra ->  Percentage-and-ratio-word-problems -> SOLUTION: I can't wrap my brain around this word problem. Layoffs. 10% of the employees in the aerospace division will be laid off and 15% of the employees in the agriculture division will       Log On


   

Question 164821: I can't wrap my brain around this word problem.
Layoffs. 10% of the employees in the aerospace division will be laid off and 15% of the employees in the agriculture division will be laid off. Altogether 12% of 3000 employees in these two divisions will be laid off. How many employees are in each division?
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12% of 3000= 360
10%=10/100=.10
15%=15/100=.15
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I can't wrap my brain around this word problem.
Layoffs. 10% of the employees in the aerospace division will be laid off and 15% of the employees in the agriculture division will be laid off. Altogether 12% of 3000 employees in these two divisions will be laid off. How many employees are in each division?
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Quantity Equation: s + a = 3000
Percentage Equatio: 0.10s + 0.15a = 0.12*3000
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Rearrange the equations for elimination:
10s + 10a = 30000
10s + 15a = 12*3000
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Subtract the 1st from the 2nd to get:
5a = 6000
a = 1200 (# of agriculture division layoffs)
s = 1800 (# of aerospace division layoffs)
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Cheers,
Stan H.