Phillip R. answered • 09/10/14
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if the subcommittees have the same number of members, then
(2/5)x - 5 = x/5 multiply by 5
2x - 25 = x
x = 25 is the number of people on the school board
Phillip R.
Everyone is whole. 25/5 = 5 and (2/5)25 = 10 - 5 = 5 also so there are 5 whole people on each committee. LOL
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09/10/14
Matt H.
wait check this out: the original equation didn't have parentheses--so if you set the parentheses differently:
2/5 (x-5) = x/5
then you multiply by 5 and you get
2 (x-5) = x, or 2x-10 = x
x then equals 10, and then if you pop 10 into both sides of the original equation, it looks like each side then equals 2, so there would be ...
2 x 2 = 4 people on the school board. Custodians, you can put your mop and buckets away!
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09/10/14
Matt H.
oh i see your comment phillip--i guess i got it into my head that everyone on the board was on one of the two subcommittees. I guess you're right... :-)
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09/10/14
Matt H.
09/10/14