SOLUTION: In 1980 the ratio of male students to female students at college was 2 males to 3 females. since then, the enrollment of male students has increased by 400 and the enrollment of fe

Algebra ->  Percentage-and-ratio-word-problems -> SOLUTION: In 1980 the ratio of male students to female students at college was 2 males to 3 females. since then, the enrollment of male students has increased by 400 and the enrollment of fe      Log On


   

Question 472981: In 1980 the ratio of male students to female students at college was 2 males to 3 females. since then, the enrollment of male students has increased by 400 and the enrollment of female students has remained the same. The ratio of males to females is currently 1 to 1. How many students are currently enrolled at college?
im really stuck.. please help me
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let m = number of males in 1980, f = number of females in 1980


Since "In 1980 the ratio of male students to female students at college was 2 males to 3 females", this means that m%2Ff=2%2F3. Solve for m to get f=%282f%29%2F3


In addition, we know that "since then, the enrollment of male students has increased by 400 and the enrollment of female students has remained the same. The ratio of males to females is currently 1 to 1". So %28m%2B400%29%2Ff=1%2F1


So all we need to do is plug in m=%282f%29%2F3 and solve for f.


%28m%2B400%29%2Ff=1%2F1


%28%282f%29%2F3%2B400%29%2Ff=1%2F1


1%28%282f%29%2F3%2B400%29=1%2Af


%282f%29%2F3%2B400=f


2f%2B1200=3f


1200=3f-2f


1200=f


f=1200


So there were 1200 female students in 1980.


Since m=%282f%29%2F3, we know that m=%282%281200%29%29%2F3=2400%2F3=800. So m=800


So there were 800 male students in 1980.


Because "the enrollment of male students has increased by 400 and the enrollment of females students has remained the same", we know that the current male enrollment is now 800+400 = 1200 males and the female enrollment remains at 1200


So again, we get the following data

 1980Current
# of Males8001200
# of Females12001200


So this table tells us that in 1980, there were 800 males and 1200 females (which forms the ratio of 2:3). Also, it tells us that there were 1200 males and 1200 females (which form the ratio 1:1).


Now to answer the question: How many students are currently enrolled at college?

Simply add the number of males and females currently attending to get: 1200+1200 = 2400


So there are 2400 students currently enrolled.