document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=143386>Question 143386</A>This question is from textbook <A HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0395352495/algebrahomeworkh>algebra: structure and method: book1</A><BR>\n" );
document.write( ": <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A math class planned a field trip to a computer center. The trip cost $240 to be paid equally by each student. 4 students suddenly can't go. This increased the cost by $2 per student. How many students went to the computer center? HELP MUCH APPRECIATED!!!! </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #104349 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><B>jim_thompson5910(35256)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=104349\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let n=# of total students and c=cost per student (assuming they all go)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So if everyone goes, then the total cost $240 is divided equally among all n students. So the individual cost is\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=c=240%2Fn ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c=240%2Fn\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "However, if 4 don't go, then simply subtract 4 from n to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=n-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"n-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. Now divide 240 by <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=n-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"n-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get the individual cost plus $2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=240%2F%28n-4%29=c%2B2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"240%2F%28n-4%29=c%2B2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=240%2F%28n-4%29=240%2Fn%2B2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"240%2F%28n-4%29=240%2Fn%2B2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Plug in <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=c=240%2Fn ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c=240%2Fn\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=n%2Across%28%28n-4%29%29%28240%2Fcross%28n-4%29%29=n%28n-4%29%28240%2Fcross%28n%29%2B2%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"n%2Across%28%28n-4%29%29%28240%2Fcross%28n-4%29%29=n%28n-4%29%28240%2Fcross%28n%29%2B2%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply both sides by the LCD <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=n%28n-4%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"n%28n-4%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. This will clear the fractions\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=240n=240%28n-4%29%2B2n%28n-4%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"240n=240%28n-4%29%2B2n%28n-4%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Distribute\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=240n=240n-960%2B2n%5E2-8n ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"240n=240n-960%2B2n%5E2-8n\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Distribute again\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=0=240n-960%2B2n%5E2-8n-240n ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"0=240n-960%2B2n%5E2-8n-240n\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >  Subtract 240n from both sides. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=0=2n%5E2-8n-960 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"0=2n%5E2-8n-960\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine like terms\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=0=2%28n-24%29%28n%2B20%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"0=2%28n-24%29%28n%2B20%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Factor the right side (note: if you need help with factoring, check out this <a  rel=nofollow HREF=http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/playground/change-this-name4450.solver>solver</a>)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now set each factor equal to zero:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=n-24=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"n-24=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=n%2B20=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"n%2B20=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=n=24 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"n=24\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=n=-20 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"n=-20\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >    Now solve for n in each case\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So our possible answers are\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=n=24 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"n=24\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=n=-20 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"n=-20\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "However, since a negative number of students doesn't make any sense, this means that our only answer is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=n=24 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"n=24\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So there are a total of 24 students. Since 4 can't go, there are only 20 students who went to the computer center. </SPAN>\n" );
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