SOLUTION: I have a word problem it says it is the first school band concert of the year and Brett is responsible for setting up the chairs. Instructions are to set up one half of the chairs

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Question 853480: I have a word problem it says it is the first school band concert of the year and Brett is responsible for setting up the chairs. Instructions are to set up one half of the chairs I the brass section one fourth in the wind section one eighth in the percussion section and five chairs are needed for strings. How many chairs will Brett need to set up and how many will he put in each section
Answer by josgarithmetic(39618) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
What FRACTION of the chairs is the 6 chairs in the strings section?

Let x = total number of chairs.

%281%2F2%29x%2B%281%2F4%29x%2B%281%2F8%29x%2B5=x
%281%2F2%2B1%2F4%2B1%2F8%29x%2B5=x
Lowest common denominator is 8.
%284%2F8%2B2%2F8%2B1%2F8%29x%2B5=8
%287%2F8%29x%2B5=x
5=x-%287%2F8%29x
%281%2F8%29x=5
x=5%2A8
highlight%28x=40%29