Question 1084767:  Jim has four test scores of 87,90,91, and 95. There is one more test during the semester. He wants to make an A in the class, which means he needs his average to be a 90. All five tests count the same in determining the class grade. What grade does Jim need to make on the fifth test to make an A in the class?  
 Answer by Theo(13342)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! his total score for 4 tests is 363 
if he need to get a 90 average, his total score for 5 tests needs to be 5 * 90 = 450 
450 - 363 = 87. 
if he gets an 87 on the last test, then his total score for all 5 tests will be 450 
divide that by 5 and his average will be 90. 
solution: 
he needs at least an 87 on the last test.
 
 
you could also have done this with averages.
 
 
the average of the 4 scores is 90.75
 
 
the formula would be (4 * 90.75 + x)/5 = 90
 
 
you would get (363 + x) / 5 = 90
 
 
multiply both sides of this equation by 5 and you get 363 + x = 450
 
 
subtract 363 from both sides of this equaitonm to get x = 450 - 363 = 87
 
 
the general formula is A = T / N 
T is the total score. 
N is the number of scores. 
A is the average score.
 
 
from this, you can also derive T = A * N
 
 
from this, you can also derive N = T / A
 
 
in this particular case, N is equal to 5 and A is equal to 90, so T is equal to A * N which is equal to 5 * 90 which is equal to 450.
 
 
that's the total you're shooting for and you already know that 4 scores is equal to 363, so the difference between the 5 scores and the 4 scores is what you need on the fifth score. 
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