Of the plants in Mr. Jacob's garden, 30% are tomatoes, 10% are radishes, 15% are cucumbers, and the remaining 9 are carrots. What is the total # of plants in his garden?
9
20
36
50
59

Question

Of the plants in Mr. Jacob's garden, 30% are tomatoes, 10% are radishes, 15% are cucumbers, and the remaining 9 are carrots. What is the total # of plants in his garden? 
9 
20 
36
50
59

johnweldon1993 · Answer

Well lets see, we know that it all adds up to 100%

$$\large 30 + 10 + 15 = 55$$

So far we have 55 percent of the garden...the remaining 9 plants are carrots

If we have 55% NOT including carrots, that means that the remaining 45% ARE carrots, so right away we know that 45% = 9 since the whole carrot crop is only 9 plants

Alright, so lets break it down

30% = tomatoes
15% = cucumbers
10% = radishes
45% = carrots = 9

So if 45% = 9

How many times does 15% go into 45%? well 3 times right? So that means that there would be 3 times less cucumbers than carrots...

9 / 3 = 3

So there are 3 cucumbers.

30% = tomatoes
15% = cucumbers = 3
10% = radishes
45% = carrots = 9

Now how many times does 15% go into 30%? Well 2 times right? That means there are 2 times MORE tomatoes than there are cucumbers.

3 * 2 = 6

So there are 6 tomatoes

30% = tomatoes = 6
15% = cucumbers = 3
10% = radishes 
45% = carrots = 9

And finally how many times does 10 go into 30? well 3 right? So that means there are 3 times LESS radishes than tomatoes

6 / 3 = 2

So there are 2 radishes

30% = tomatoes = 6
15% = cucumbers = 3
10% = radishes = 2
45% = carrots = 9

Now altogether, we have 6 + 3 + 2 + 9 = 20 plants in the garden

triciaal · Answer

since they did not ask for the breakdown it is a waste of time to do all that.
additionally, you don't want to round.

now as at the start, 55% not carrots therefore 45% of the total, x = 9
45/100* x = 9
x = 900/45 = 20