Question

On the track and field team,

3
8
of the members do the hurdles.
Of the members who do the hurdles,
4
5
also do the long jump.
If there are 40 members on the track team, how many do both the hurdles and the long jump? I really need help...

Answer 1

It could be anywhere from eight to 15 members.

Explanation:

Answer:

A. Count the members on each team

Hurdles = ⅜ × 40 = 3 × 5 = 15

Long jump = ⅘ × 40 = 4 × 8 = 32

Let's look at the two extremes.

B. Most people will compete in only one event

Then the teams will overlap by seven members (Figure 1).

C. All those in Hurdles compete in the Long Jump

Then 15 members will compete in both Hurdles and Long Jump (Figure 2).

Answer 2

12 do both hurdles and long jump

Explanation:

3/8 of the team does hurdles, so that number is 3/8·40 = 15.

Of those 15, 4/5 do long jump, so there are ...

4/5·15 = 12 . . . hurdlers who do long jump