Problem solving skills

Question

The freshman, junior, and senior classes are selling raffles tickets as a fundraiser for a local hospital 940 tickets were sold in all.  The junior class sold 7/8 as many raffle tickets as the senior class.  The freshman class sold 1 1/16 as the senior class.

 

write and solve an equation for the situation.

Answer 1

The whole here is the Senior class, S.

Our equation is:

940 = (1)S + (.875)S + (1.0625)S

Add up all coefficients (numbers)

940 = (2.9375) S

Divide both sides by the coefficient.

(940/2.9375) = (2.9375 S/2.9375)

320 = S

 

Now, add S in the equation.

 

940 = (320) + (.875*320) + (1.0625*320)

940 = (seniors) + (juniors) + (freshmen)

940 = (320) + (280) + (340)

 

Therefore:

Seniors = 320

Juniors = 280

Freshmen = 340