The department head decided to reduce these requests so that they would total $40 million.




bureau a-10 million
bureau b-12 million
bureau c- 18 million
bureau d- 6 million
bureau e- 4 million

Reduce the requests of bureaus a, b, and d by an equal dollar amount . Reduce the dollar amount request of bureau c by 2 and a half times the dollar amount that he reduces the request of bureau b.
Reduce the dollar amount request of bureau e by 1/2 of the dollar amount that he reduces the request of bureau b.

the dollar amount request for bureau e after reduction by the department head would be most nearly _____ millions
a. $1 2/3
b $2 1/3
c. $3 1/6
d. $3 1/2

reading from a book and it doesn't show how to do the work.

The answer is c., but I don't know how to show the work.
[Edited 6/20/09 8:21am]
[Edited 6/20/09 8:42am]

Percentage word problem?
1 day- 76 workers
2 days -23 workers
3 days-6 workers
4days -3
5days -1
6days-0
7days-1
8days -0

total number of workers 400

what percent of workers had 4 or more days absence due to sickness?
a. .25%
b. 2.5 %
c. 1.25%
d. 12.5%

Anyone know how to do the math to get the answer? I need to study an exam for a job, but the book doesn't show how to do the problems

the answer is 1.25%

peacenlovealways said:

More than 4 days absence = 5 employees/400 = .0125 or 1.25%

littlemissG said:

Thanks! You are the best!!!

I'm still wrestling with the first one.

littlemissG said:

yeah, I think for me it's the first line that makes it hard. Thanks anyway.

The first one doesn't seem to have all of the information given. It seems that you are free to choose how much a, b and d are reduced by. Without some other constraint, I can't see how there's a unique solution.

Moonbeam said:

oh wait there is more I'll post above

peacenlovealways said:

I can answer it if you post the whole question!

There is part b, but that is for another question...I hope the added part above helps solve the question.

Here we go! The 40 million was what I needed to know.

It's basically an algebra question. Let's let x represent the dollar amount by which the department head reduces the requests from bureaus a, b, and d. Bureau c is reduced by 2.5 times that amount (so 2.5x). Bureau e is reduced by half that amount (so 0.5x). Add the amounts after reductions and set it equal to 40 (million). Then simplify to solve for x. Bureau e will have a request value of 4 - 0.5x.

Bureau a + Bureau b + Bureau c + Bureau d + Bureau e = 40

(10 - x) + (12 - x) + (18 - 2.5x) + (6 - x) + (4 - 0.5x) = 40

50 - 6x = 40

10 - 6x = 0

10 = 6x

x = 10/6

Now, bureau e will have a request value of 4 - 0.5x:

4 - 0.5x
= 4 - 0.5*(10/6)
= 4 - 5/6
= 3 and 1/6

Moonbeam said:

Thank you so much!!!
You are awesome!

peacenlovealways said:

yeah he probably makes up questions like this while he's waiting at a red light or something

question now is, do you understand it?

Harrumph, I'm actually a little peeved Moonbeam beat me to this. Solving algebraic equations is my idea of a good time.