SOLUTION: The chief of police for smalltown USA notice that, not including himself, 3/5 of his police force carries firearms. If he include himself, 5/8 of his force carries fairearms. Ho

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Question 328296: The chief of police for smalltown USA notice that, not including himself, 3/5 of his police force carries firearms.
If he include himself, 5/8 of his force carries fairearms. How many people on his force do not carry firearms?

a) 5
b) 6
c) 11
d) 16
e) 24
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The chief of police for small town USA notice that, not including himself,
3/5 of his police force carries firearms.
If he include himself, 5/8 of his force carries firearms.
How many people on his force do not carry firearms?
:
Originally then, 2/5 did not carry guns
Later then, 3/8 did not carry guns
:
Let x = total on the police force not counting the chief
:
No. not carrying guns remains unchanged, so we have:
2%2F5x = 3%2F8(x+1)
Multiply both sides by 40, results
8(2)x = 5(3(x+1))
16x = 15x + 15
16x - 15x = 15
x = 15 total on the police force
then
2%2F5*15 = 6 did not carry guns
:
Confirm solution
3%2F8*(15+1) = 6 also