# help word problems

• Nov 15th 2006, 06:12 PM
jarny
help word problems
A group of boys and girls took a test. Exactly 2/3 of the boys and exactly 3/4 of the girls passed the test. If an equal number of boys and girls passed the test, what fraction of the entire group passed? help would be appreciated, thanks.
• Nov 15th 2006, 06:50 PM
Mr_Green
2/3 = 8/12

3/4 = 9/12

12 boys and 12 girls for a total of 24 students

8+9 = 17 students passed (8 boys and 9 girls)
• Nov 15th 2006, 08:30 PM
Soroban
Hello, jarny!

Quote:

A group of boys and girls took a test.
Exactly 2/3 of the boys and exactly 3/4 of the girls passed the test.
If an equal number of boys and girls passed the test,
what fraction of the entire group passed?

Let . $\begin{array}{cc} B = \text{number of boys} \\ G = \text{number of girls}\end{array}$

$\frac{2}{3}$ of the boys passed: . $\frac{2}{3}B$ boys passed.

$\frac{3}{4}$ of the girls passed: . $\frac{3}{4}G$ girls passed.

. . Hence, a total of $\frac{2}{3}B + \frac{3}{4}G$ students passed.

There was a total of $B + G$ students.

. . Hence, the fraction that passed is: . $\frac{\frac{2}{3}B + \frac{3}{4}G}{B + G}$ [1]

We are told that: . $\frac{2}{3}B\,=\,\frac{3}{4}G$ [2]
. . and hence: . $8B \,=\,9G\quad\Rightarrow\quad G\,=\,\frac{8}{9}B$ [3]

Substitute [2] and [3] into [1]: . $\frac{\frac{2}{3}B + \frac{2}{3}B}{B + \frac{8}{9}B} \;=\;\frac{\frac{4}{3}B}{\frac{17}{9}B} \;= \;\boxed{\frac{12}{17}}$