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2007 AMC 10B Problem 14

Problem 14 of 25IntermediateAlgebra

Some boys and girls are having a car wash to raise money for a class trip to China. Initially 40%40\% of the group are girls. Shortly thereafter two girls leave and two boys arrive, and then 30%30\% of the group are girls. How many girls were initially in the group?

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Solution

Two girls leave and two boys arrive, so the group size is unchanged. The two girls who left therefore represent 40%30%=10%40\%-30\%=10\% of the group. Thus the group has 2÷0.10=202\div 0.10=20 people, and the original number of girls was 40%40\% of 20,20, or 8.8. Thus, the correct answer is C.

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Concepts: percentage · linear equation

Problem text and solution from the LIVE past-contest archive. See also the AoPS wiki page for community solutions.