math help

[simba928]

I cannot figure out how to do this problem for the life of me. If someone could just help me out a bit, even just tell me how to get started, I would really appreciate it. I can't even figure out how to start it.

Jay likes baseball. He's a good fielder, but he wants to improve his batting average, currently .250 (25%) for the first part of the season. He practiced a lot with a friend and managed to hit 25 out of 50 times that he was up to bat that season.

Suppose Jay's batting average at the end of the season is 33 1/3%. How many hits did he get during the earlier part of the season (when his batting average was 25%)

 

[simba928]

anybody even have the slightest clue of what to do? I usually don't have a problem with these. She gives us 4 every 9-weeks along with 4 assignments on the internet. There is one due every week and she alternates between the internet assignment and this one. They are only worth 5 points, but I need every point possible in that class.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

I actually took many types of math in college so I should be able to figure this out. (I have my BS in Computer Science, there is a lot of math involved.)

Give me a few to try to figure it out. I hope I can help.

 

[Sparx]

I have absolutly no idea. , sorry!

 

[chell]

Word problems suck! Sorry, I had to get that off of my chest.

Maybe I am missing something but there doesn't look to be enough info there for me. Should you assume he had 50 at bats during the start of the season as well? I don't see how you will get the number of hits not knowing how many times he was at bat. What am I missing here?

 

[simba928]

Thanks BenJen!
Thats ok, Thanks anyways Sparx

 

[simba928]

Word problems suck! Sorry, I had to get that off of my chest.

Maybe I am missing something but there doesn't look to be enough info there for me. Should you assume he had 50 at bats during the start of the season as well? I don't see how you will get the number of hits not knowing how many times he was at bat. What am I missing here?

I am assuming it has something to do with averaging the percentages or something, but I have no clue where to start to do that.

 

[chell]

I am assuming it has something to do with averaging the percentages or something, but I have no clue where to start to do that.

My mind must really be asleep because I don't see how you could get the number from percentages. I bet I will feel so stupid when someone figures it out.

 

[DisneyGirl]

I'll try: It should be 25 hits in the first half

We know that if x = # of hits, and y=# of tries, then x/y = .25

Then, we know that 25+x/50+y = .333

Now you have 2 equations and 2 variables. Plug one into the other, you get:

25+.25y/50+y = .333
solve for y, you get approx. 100

Plug that into the other equation, you get

x/100 = .25
therefore, x = 25 hits

It's been awhile-- does that make sense??
What is this for?

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

Well it seems too easy, but maybe thats because I've taken years of calculus.

I think it is worded weirdly but I am assuming that he had 50 times at bat in the first part of the season. So then:

25% = 25/100
percentage of hits = number of hits / times at bat
x = number of hits

25/100 = x/50
100x = 1250
x = 1250/100
x = 12.5 hits. Since you cannot have a half a hit I think the answer would be 12.

Now for the weird part. After some tough courses in college I learned that Google is your friend. I found the same question with different numbers all solved for me. This is their solution (with your numbers instead):

x = number of hits
x/.25 = 5x (<--I am not really sure where the 5 comes from)
(x+25)/(5x+50) = 33.333% (<--thats 33 1/3%)
(x+25)/(5x+50) = 33.333/100
(x+25)*100 = (5x+50)*33.333
100x + 2500 = 166.665x + 1666.65
2500 = 166.665x - 100x + 1666.65
2500 = 66.665x + 1666.65
2500 - 1666.65 = 66.665x
833.35 = 66.665x
x = 833.35/66.665
x = 12.5006 number of hits. Same as before, you cannot have a half a hit, so the answer is still 12.

You chose whichever you like. I think my way is more logical. Good luck with your math course. I love algebra, I miss it.

 

[DisneyGirl]

Lol-- I'm wrong

 

[simba928]

Thanks. Disneygirl's makes more sense to me. We have to write out an explanation that if we would give it to someone in a math 2 levels below us, they could follow it and come out with the right answer.
BenJen: I don't know if we can assume that he had 50 times at bat before because it just said the first part and the second part, which could mean 30 times in the first part and 50 times in the second part or 500 times in the first part. You know? And what are the first and second ways you worked it? Would I just have to use one or are they both together? I totally get the first one. It makes perfect sense, but the second one confused me.

 

[chell]

Please come back and let us know for certain how it works out in your class.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

The second way confused me too. It was a solution I found on Google. I don't know what the real answer is because the question is slightly confusing. Sorry, wish I could be more help.

 

[simba928]

Would the 5 (that you said you don't know where it came from) change to a 4? Because 4x= the number of times he would have been up to bat in the first part of the season.

 

[simba928]

The second way confused me too. It was a solution I found on Google. I don't know what the real answer is because the question is slightly confusing. Sorry, wish I could be more help.

That's ok, THanks so much! You were a huge help!

Please come back and let us know for certain how it works out in your class.

I will let you know on Monday.

 

[tmt martins]

I cannot figure out how to do this problem for the life of me. If someone could just help me out a bit, even just tell me how to get started, I would really appreciate it. I can't even figure out how to start it.

Jay likes baseball. He's a good fielder, but he wants to improve his batting average, currently .250 (25%) for the first part of the season. He practiced a lot with a friend and managed to hit 25 out of 50 times that he was up to bat that season.

Suppose Jay's batting average at the end of the season is 33 1/3%. How many hits did he get during the earlier part of the season (when his batting average was 25%)

The problem id it says "He practiced a lot with a friend and managed to hit 25 out of 50 times that he was up to bat that season."

So 25 out of 50 times that season would make it .500 not .333 as stated in the next.

Suppose Jay's batting average at the end of the season is 33 1/3%.

I could see if it said after the practiced he hie 25 out of 50 but it doesn't it says the season.

 

[simba928]

The problem id it says "He practiced a lot with a friend and managed to hit 25 out of 50 times that he was up to bat that season."

So 25 out of 50 times that season would make it .500 not .333 as stated in the next.

Suppose Jay's batting average at the end of the season is 33 1/3%.

I could see if it said after the practiced he hie 25 out of 50 but it doesn't it says the season.

It says that he hit 25 out of the remaining 50 times that season, which means that after he practiced, he was up to bat 50 more times and actually hit 25 out of those 50.

 

[simba928]

OK, now how do I solve for y in this equation:

25+.25y / 50+y=.333

 

[simba928]

Mission: Accomplished! And hopefully its correct! I'll let yall know on Monday what happened.