Slightly Outnumbered
If this class contains between $45$% and $50$% girls, what is the smallest possible number of girls in the class?
Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
In Miss Quaffley's class, the girls make up more than $45$% of the pupils, but less than $50$%.
What is the smallest possible number of girls in her class?
If you liked this problem, here is an NRICH task which challenges you to use similar mathematical ideas.
Answer: 5 girls (in a class of 11)
| Girls | Class | % girls |
| 1 | 2 | 50% |
| 2 | 4 | 50% |
| 5 | 40% | |
| 3 | 7 | $\frac37$ = 42.9% |
| 8 | $\frac38$ = 37.5% | |
| 4 | 9 | 44.4...% |
| 5 | 11 | 45.4545% |