Determining Rachel's Average: Solving Weighted Grade Percentages

Weighted Averages with Variable Percentages

Rachel's grades are are follows:

ExamGradeWeight20%15%X%the remainingpercentage95897892ExamExamExam

What is Raachel's average grade?

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1

Understand the problem

Rachel's grades are are follows:

ExamGradeWeight20%15%X%the remainingpercentage95897892ExamExamExam

What is Raachel's average grade?

2

Step-by-step solution

First, identify the percentages associated with each grade, with the knowledge that all weights should total 100%.

We have:

  • First exam: 95 95 with 20% 20\%

  • Second exam: 89 89 with 15% 15\%

  • Third exam: 78 78 with X% X\%

  • Fourth exam: 92 92 with the remaining percentage.

Since the weights must sum to 100% 100\% , the equation becomes:
20+15+X+remaining=100 20 + 15 + X + \text{remaining} = 100 .
This gives us:

remaining=100(20+15+X)\text{remaining} = 100 - (20 + 15 + X)

remaining=65X\text{remaining} = 65 - X

Now find the weighted average using:

(95×0.20)+(89×0.15)+(78×X100)+(92×(65X)100) \left( 95 \times 0.20 \right) + \left( 89 \times 0.15 \right) + \left( 78 \times \frac{X}{100} \right) + \left( 92 \times \frac{(65-X)}{100} \right)

Simplifying each term, we have:

95×0.20=19,89×0.15=13.35,78×X100=0.78X,92×65X100=92×(0.65X100)=59.80.92X. \begin{aligned} 95 \times 0.20 & = 19,\\ 89 \times 0.15 & = 13.35,\\ 78 \times \frac{X}{100} & = 0.78X,\\ 92 \times \frac{65-X}{100} & = 92 \times (0.65 - \frac{X}{100}) = 59.8 - 0.92X. \end{aligned}

Adding these components yields:

19+13.35+0.78X+59.80.92X 19 + 13.35 + 0.78X + 59.8 - 0.92X .

Combine like terms to simplify further:

92.150.14X 92.15 - 0.14X .

Therefore, Rachel's average grade can be expressed as 92.150.14X 92.15 - 0.14X .

3

Final Answer

92.150.14x 92.15-0.14x

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Rule: All weight percentages must sum to exactly 100%
  • Technique: Convert each weight to decimal: 20% = 0.20, 15% = 0.15
  • Check: Verify weights total 100: 20 + 15 + X + (65-X) = 100 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Forgetting to express the remaining percentage as (65-X)
    Don't just ignore the fourth exam's weight or assume it's a fixed number = incomplete calculation! The remaining percentage depends on X, so when X changes, the fourth exam's weight changes too. Always express the remaining weight as (100 - sum of known weights - X).

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

A hotel's overall rating is determined according to a weighted average of several categories. Each category is given a rating and a weighted factor. Below are the ratings for the "Happy Tourist" hotel:

SatisfactionCleanlinessServiceBreakfastRatingWeight50%30%10%10%4.5453

Determine the hotel's overall rating?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why is the answer expressed with X instead of a single number?

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Because we don't know the exact value of X! The third exam's weight is variable, so Rachel's average depends on what X equals. The expression 92.150.14X 92.15 - 0.14X shows how her average changes as X changes.

How do I calculate the remaining percentage?

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Since all weights must total 100%, subtract the known weights: Remaining = 100 - 20 - 15 - X = 65 - X. This remaining percentage is what the fourth exam gets.

What does the coefficient -0.14 tell us about X?

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The negative coefficient means as X increases, Rachel's average decreases. This makes sense because the third exam (78) is her lowest score, so giving it more weight lowers her overall average.

How do I multiply percentages by grades?

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Convert percentages to decimals first: 95×0.20=19 95 \times 0.20 = 19 , 89×0.15=13.35 89 \times 0.15 = 13.35 . For the variable term: 78×X100=0.78X 78 \times \frac{X}{100} = 0.78X .

What if X equals 30%?

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Substitute X = 30 into the formula: 92.150.14(30)=92.154.2=87.95 92.15 - 0.14(30) = 92.15 - 4.2 = 87.95 . So if the third exam has 30% weight, Rachel's average would be 87.95.

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