suppose both bands decide to combine and perform as one band. What fraction of the band members will play a brass instrument?

Question

At Carter school, 1/3 students play percussion, 2/5 brass, 4/15 woodwind. At Reagan School, 1/3 play woodwind, 1/6 percussion, and 1/2 brass. We know that Carter has 30 total musicians and Reagan has 18 total musicians.

Answer 1

Hi Rebecca, look at the following table:

Carter School Reagan School

Instrument Fraction # of students Instrument Fraction # of students

Percussion 1/3 10 Percussion 1/6 3

Brass 2/5 12 Brass 1/2 9

Woodwind 4/15 8 Woodwind 1/3 6

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total # students 30 Total # students 18

Combined band = 30 + 18 = 48

Combined Brass = 12 + 9 = 21

Fraction of brass in combined band = 21 / 48 or 7 / 16

Questions