SOLUTION: My question is on solving word problems. Wilson High School has 400 students, 20% of whom are African American. the school board plans to merge Wilson High with Jefferson High. T

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Question 273482: My question is on solving word problems.
Wilson High School has 400 students, 20% of whom are African American. the school board plans to merge Wilson High with Jefferson High. This one school will then have a student population that is 44% african American. If Jefferson currently has a student population 60% African American, then how many students are at Jefferson? Can you please help me with the correct forumla I use?
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
This problem is just like mixture problems & is solved the same way
In words:
(number of A.A. students in Wilson H.) + (number of A.A. students in Jefferson H.) / (total number of students in the combined school) = 44%
Let n = number of students in Jefferson H.
given:
400 students in Wilson H.
.2%2A400+=+80 A.A. students in Wilson H.
.6n = A.A. students in Jefferson H.
---------------------------------
%2880+%2B+.6n%29%2F%28400+%2B+n%29+=+.44
80+%2B+.6n+=+.44%2A%28400+%2B+n%29
80+%2B+.6n+=+176+%2B+.44n
.16n+=+96
n+=+600
There are 600 students at Jefferson H.
check answer:
%2880+%2B+.6n%29%2F%28400+%2B+n%29+=+.44
%2880+%2B+.6%2A600%29%2F%28400+%2B+600%29+=+.44
%2880+%2B+360%29%2F1000+=+.44
440%2F1000+=+.44
.44+=+.44
OK