BTGModeratorVI wrote: ↑Tue Feb 16, 2021 8:09 am
The present ratio of students to teachers at a certain school is 30 to 1. If the student enrollment were to increase by 50 students and the number of teachers were to increase by 5, the ratio of students to teachers would then be 25 to 1. What is the present number of teachers?
(A) 5
(B) 8
(C) 10
(D) 12
(E) 15
Source: official guide
Answer:
E
I prefer to use two variables for these "changing ratios" questions.
The PRESENT ratio of students to teachers at a certain school is 30 to 1
Let S = # of students PRESENTLY
Let T = # of teachers PRESENTLY
We can write: S/T = 30/1
Cross multiply to get: (1)(S) = (30)(T)
Simplify:
S = 30T
If the student enrollment were to increase by 50 students and the number of teachers were to increase by 5, the ratio of students to teachers would then be 25 to 1
In this scenario...
S + 50 = # of students
T + 5 = # of teachers
So, we get: (S + 50)/(T + 5) = 25/1
Cross multiply to get: (S + 50)(1) = (25)(T + 5)
Expand: S + 50 = 25T + 125
Simplify to get:
S = 25T + 75
We now have 2 equations with 2 variables:
S = 30T
S = 25T + 75
To solve, replace
S in the bottom equation with
30T
We get:
30T =
25T + 75
So: 5T = 75
Solve:
T = 15
So, there are PRESENTLY
15 teachers
Answer: E
Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
