document.write( "Question 372346: The ratio of boys to girls in the eighth grade is 4 to 5. If there are 375 students in the eighth grade, how many boys are there? How many girls? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #265236 by neatmath(302) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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We will set up a proportion using the 4 to 5 ratio.
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Let x be the unknown # of boys, then 375-x will be the # of girls:
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " $\"4%2F5=x%2F%28375-x%29\"$
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " $\"5x=4%2A%28375-x%29\"$
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " $\"5x=1500-4x\"$
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " $\"9x=1500\"$
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " $\"x=500%2F3\"$
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Unfortunately, this problem as written does not have a real solution without the use of rounding.
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "500/3 would round to 167 boys, which would mean there are 208 girls.
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "However, 167 boys to 208 girls would not be an EXACT 4 to 5 ratio.
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "This would be my best guesstimate answer with the specifications given in the problem as written.
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "In order for the answer to come out correctly, the total number of students would need to be divisible by 9.
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If there were actually 378 students, a true 4 to 5 ratio would be found by having 168 boys and 210 girls.
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I hope this helps a little bit!
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