School of Accountancy, Management, Computing & Information Studies

Saint Louis University

GMATH – Math in the Modern World

MIDTERM ASSIGNMENT
Name: Jeon, Seok-Hyun R. SCORE: ________
Schedule: TTHS 12:30 – 1:30 Date ______________
Solve the following problems:
1. Mary Hall’s will, specifies that her lawyer is to liquidate her assets and divide the proceeds among her
three sisters. Lena’s share is to be one-half of Lisa’s, and Lisa’s share is to be one-half of Lauren’s. If
the lawyer has agreed to a fee that is equal to 10% of the largest share and the proceeds amount to
$164,428, then how much does each person get?
Let x be the smallest amount which is the lawyer's fee.
lawyer's fee - 10% of the largest share = x
amount of Lauren's share = 10x
amount of Lisa’s share - ½ of Lauren’s = ½ (10x)
amount of Lena’s share - ½ of Lisa’s = {½ [½ (10x)]}
total amount of proceeds - $164,428
x + 10x + ½ (10x) + {½ [½ (10x)]} = $164,428 (equation)
Lawyer’s Share Lauren’s Share Lisa’s Share Lena’s Share
x + 10x + ½ (10x) + {½ [½ (10x)]} amount of Lauren's amount of Lisa’s share amount of Lena’s share
= $164,428
share = 10x - ½ of Lauren’s = ½ - ½ of Lisa’s = {½ [½
x + 10x + 5x + ½ (5x) = $164,428
= 10 ($8,888) (10x) (10x)]}
x + 10x + 5x + 2.5x = $164,428
18.5x = $164,428
= $88,880.00 = ½ ($88,880) = ½ ($44,440)
18.5x/18.5 = $164,428/18.5 = $44, 440.00 = $22,220.00
x = $8,888.00

$8,888 + $88,880 + $44,440 + $22,220 = $164,428

2. In a basketball league consisting of 15 teams, each team plays each of the other teams exactly
two times. How many league games will be played?
n – 15 teams
Sum of n integers, here there are 15 teams so,
= n (n+1) / 2
= 15 (15+1) / 2
= 15 * 16 / 2
= 240/2
= 120 games

As each team plays twice with another team,

Total games played = 120 * 2

= 240 games

3. How many grams of an alloy 70% copper must be mixed with 40 grams of an alloy 90% pure to make
a mixture 78% copper?

x – number of grams needed of the 70% alloy for copper

wt – 40 g
(x + 40) (0.78) = (x) (0.70) + (40) (0.90)
0.78x + 31.2 = 0.70x + 36
0.78x - 0.70x = 36 - 31.2
0.08x = 4.8
x = 4.8/0.08
x = 60 grams

4. In a certain two-digit number, the units’ digit is one more than three-fourths of the tens’ digit. If a
number which exceeds the given number by 100 is divided by the sum of the digits of the given number,
the quotient is twelve with a remainder of seven. Find the number.
Possible unit digit
4 or 8, since 4 and 8 are the only one-digit number divisible by 4
¾ of 4 = 3 3 more than 1 = 4
¾ of 8 = 6 6 more than 1 = 7
Two possible answers are 44 and 87
44 exceeds 100 = 144
87 exceeds 100 = 187
4+4=8
8 + 7 = 15
144 / 8 = 18 with zero remainder
187 / 8 = 12 with remainder of 7
Therefore, 87 is the number.

5. Tractor A can plow the field in 5 days, and tractor B can do the same in 7 days. Another tractor,
tractor C can plow it in 3 days. How long it would take for the three tractors to plow the field if they are
used all together?
r = w/t
r – rate
w – work
t= time
t = w/r
number of fields:
rate of A = 1 field/5 days = 1/5 field per day
rate of B = 1 field/7 days = 1/7 field per day
rate of C = 1 field/3 days = 1/3 field per day
t = w / r (total rate)
t = 1 / (1/5 + 1/7 + 1/3)
t = 1 / (71/105)
t = 1 * 105/71
t = 105/71 days
t = 1 34/71 days or 1 day, 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 34,65 seconds

6. Three airports A, B and C are located on a north-south line. B is 645 miles north of A and C is 540
miles north of B. A pilot flew from A to B, delayed 2h, and continued to C. The wind was blowing from
the south at 15 mph during the first part of the trip, but during the delay it changed to the north with a
velocity of 20 mph. If each flight required the same time, find the airspeed of the plane.

x – airspeed of the plane

x + 15 - speed of the plane between A and B
x – 20 – speed of the plane between B and C
distance between A and B = 645
distance between B and C = 540
Formula for time
t1 = distance between A and B / speed
= 645 / x +15
t2 = distance between B and C / speed
= 540 / x – 20
t1 = t2
645 / x +15 = 540 / x – 20
(x – 20) (645) = (x +15) (540)
645x – 12900 = 540x + 8100
645x – 540x = 8100 + 12900
105x = 21000
105x / 105 = 21000 / 105
x = 200 mph
The airspeed of the plane was 200 miles per hour
7. Mr. Jones has $20,000 to invest. He invests part at 6% and the rest at 7%. If he earns $1,280 in
interest after 1 year, how much did he invest at each rate?
I = PRT
I – interest ($1280)
P – principal
R – rate
T = time
x – represents the amount that Mr. Jones invests at 6%
20,000 – x – amount that Mr. Jones invests at 7%

(x) (0.06) (1) + (20,000 - x) (0.07) (1) = 1,280

0.06x + (20,000) (0.07) - (x) (0.07) = 1280
0.06x + 1400 - 0.07x = 1280
0.06x - 0.07x = 1280 - 1400
-0.01x = -120
x = -120/-0.01
x (6%) = 12000

20,000 - x
= 20,000 - 12,000
7% = 8,000
Therefore, Mr. Jones invested 12,000 in 6% and 8,000 in 7%.

8. A museum charges $5 for admission tickets, but members receive a $1 discount and students are
admitted for half price. One Saturday, 1,050 tickets were sold for a total of $4,035. If 35 more students’
tickets than full price tickets were sold, find number of each type of tickets sold.
Let us represent the number of ordinary guests as “G”, members as “M”, and students as “S”:
G + M + S = 1050
5G + 4M + 2.5S = 4035
S = G + 35
G + M + (G + 35) = 1050
2G + M + 35 = 1050
M = 1050 - 35 - 2G
M = 1015 - 2G
S = G + 35
M = 1015 - 2G
G =?
5G + 4M + 2.5S = 4035
5G + 4(1015 - 2G) + 2.5(G + 35) = 4035
5G + 4060 - 8G + 2.5G + 87.5 = 4035
-0.5G = 4035 - 4060 - 87.5
-0.5G = -112.5
G = 225
Substitute to the equations for M and S
S = G + 35 = 225 + 35 = 260
M = 1015 - 2G = 1015 – 2(225) = 1015 - 450 = 565
G = 225
Therefore, there were 225 full-price, 565 members, and 260 students.
9. A professor is three times as old as one of his pupils, Freddie. Four years ago, he was four times as old
as Freddie was at the time. How old is Freddie?
p – professor
f – Freddie
p = 3f
p – 4 = 4 (f - 4)
Substitute for "p" and solve for "f":
p – 4 = 4 (f - 4)
3f – 4 = 4 (f – 4)
3f – 4 = 4f – 16
4f – 3f = 16 – 4
Freddie = 12 years old

10. Paul agreed to work on his uncle’s ranch 3 months one summer for $650 and a used car. At the end
of two months, he was needed at home, so his uncle paid him $200 and the car. What was the value of
the car?
x – represents the value of the used car
Paul only worked 2 out of the three months
200 + x = (2/3) (650 + x)
200 + x = (1300/3 + 2x/3)
3[200 + x = (1300/3 + 2x/3)] 3
600 + 3x = 1300 + 2x
3x – 2x = 1300 - 600
(value of the car) x = $700
 PRAYER
“Father, help us to keep our focus on YOU when fear, anxiety and hurt are
overwhelming. Help us to be faithful and rest our trust in YOU…and to see
YOUR power and goodness overcome every trial that we are facing during this
time. Please strengthen our mind, heart, and body and heal us today.
May the Holy Spirit guide us in peace and comfort now and forever.”
Amen."

“No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
Psalm 91:10