[LMB] AKICOTL: very OT - interpreting an algebra question

[Jim Parish]

Becca wrote:
> "Polls indicate that 66% of all adults have Internet access.
> About 25% more online adults access the Internet from home than
> from work.

So, if x% of online adults access from work, then (x+25)% access from 
home. Work and home account for (2x+25)% of online adults.

> If 15% go online from other locations (not work or
> home), what is the percent of online adults accessing the
> internet from home? What is the percent of online adults
> accessing the Internet from work?"

Other than that (2x+25)%, there is an additional 15%. So the total from 
all locations (home/work/other) is (2x+25+15)% or (2x+40)%. That has 
to equal the 66% given at the beginning, so 2x+40=66 or x=13. 13% 
access from work, and 28% access from home.

(I think the question is poorly phrased, by the way; it's not clear, for 
example, that the 25% is of all adults (100%) as opposed to online 
adults (66%). For that matter, it could be interpreted as saying that the 
percentage of home users is 1 1/4 times the percentage of work users.)

Jim Parish