Word problem

Question

Riverside elementary has a school wide election to vote for school color, Five eighths of the votes were for blue, five ninths of the remaining were for green, and the remaining 48 votes were for red. How many votes were for blue

How many votes were for green

Answer 1

William, these kinds of problems are confusing, but it's easier than you think!

 

So 5/8 are for blue. This means that 3/8 were not for blue, right?

 

The word "of" in a problem means to multiply. 5/9 of those 3/8 remaining are for green, so 5/9 x 3/8 = 15/72.

 

Now, 5/8 + 15/72 are not red. 5/8 + 15/72 = 45/72 + 15/72 = 60/72 that are not red.

 

If 60/72 are not red, then 12/72 are red. 12/72 = 1/6, and 1/6 of the votes = 48.

 

Finally, if ONE sixth = 48, then the total SIX sixths of votes = 48(6)= 288.

 

Let's check.  288(5/8) = 180. 

 

288 - 180 = 108

 

108(5/9) = 60

 

108 - 60 = 48 red votes

 

Bam. Hope this helps!