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AlgebraHardClass size from two fractional groups

Algebra practice question

In a class, one quarter of the students come by bus and one third walk. Together, the students who come by bus or walk number 7. How many students are in the class?

Answer: 12

Let n be the class size: n/4 + n/3 = 7. Common denominator 12: 7n/12 = 7, so n = 12.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 21
21 comes from n/3 = 7 alone, ignoring the bus riders.
If you answered 49
49 comes from n/7 = 7, adding the denominators instead of finding a common one.
If you answered 84
84 multiplies 7 by 12 without dividing by the combined coefficient 7.

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