Question

In one game, the ratio of three-point baskets to three-point tries for one team was 3:8. If the team scored 27 points from three-point baskets, how many three-point tries did the team have?

Answer 1

Since we’ve been given a ratio, 3:8, we can convert that into a fraction and form an equation from it:

$\frac{3}{8}$ = $\frac{27/3}{?}$

The reason the numerator on the second fraction is 27/3 is because the team scored 27 points, not 27 baskets.

Simplify (Also replace the ? with an unknown variable):

$\frac{3}{8}$ = $\frac{9}{n}$

Cross multiply:

3*n = 9*8

Simplify:

3n = 72

Divide both sides by 3:

n = 24

The team had 33 three point tries, 9 successes, and 24 fails.

-T.B.