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

Norbert buys some new clothes.

When he gets home, he decides to work out how much each outfit cost him on average.

PriceOutfit4 T-shirts2 pairs of shorts3 pairs of pants2 sweaters45$50$80$100$210$1 coat

What answer should he come up with?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

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

+

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?

+

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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