Question 1202746
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40% of the total number of books were fiction; when the 875 books were borrowed, the number of fiction books left was half the original number. So the fiction books that were borrowed were 20% of the total number of books in the library.<br>
Since 40% of the books were fiction, 60% were non-fiction.  When the 875 books were borrowed, the number of non-fiction books decreased by 25%. 25% of 60% is 15%, so the non-fiction books that were borrowed were 15% of the total number of books in the library.<br>
So the 875 books that were borrowed were 20%+15% = 35% of the total number of books in the library.<br>
Let x be the total number of books in the library.  Then
.35x = 875
x = 875/.35 = 2500<br>
a) The number of non-fiction books that were borrowed was 15% of the total of 2500:<br>
ANSWER: .15(2500)= 375<br>
b) The number of fiction books in the library at first was 40% of the total of 2500:<br>
ANSWER: .40(2500) = 1000<br>