How many didn't participate?

Question

A challenged was given to the students in the Senior class not smoke.  One-sixth of the student signed a pledge not to smoke on 12/2.  A third of the students promised to join a group to discuss the benefits of not ever smoking.  The rest of the students did nothing.  There are a total of 982 students.  How many of the students didn't participate?  

Answer 1

(1/6)+(1/3)=(1/6)+(2/6)=(3/6)=1/2 of the students did something

therefore 1/2 of the students didn't participate

(1/2)*982=491 of the students didn't participate

however, 982 is not divisible by 6 and therefore not divisible by 3 also

maybe you meant 882 instead of 982

Answer 2

one sixth of 982 = 982/6 = 163.66 = 164

 

one third 0f 982 = 327.3

 

left = 982 - (163.66 + 327.33) = 491

 

Although numbers of students in fraction is not possible.

 

:)