Question Three-fifths of the members of the school choir are women. If there are 24 women, what is the total number of choir members?

Did you know that the "three-fifths rule" has roots that trace back to the 18th century in the U.S. Constitution? It was a way to determine representation in Congress, taking into account a conflicting social reality. In this case, though, it’s all about the choir! If three-fifths of the members are women and there are 24 women, you can determine the total choir size by setting up a simple equation. To solve, you can let \( x \) be the total number of choir members. Since three-fifths of \( x \) equals 24, we have \( \frac{3}{5}x = 24 \). By multiplying both sides by \( \frac{5}{3} \), you find that \( x = 40 \). So the total number of choir members is 40! Now that’s a harmonious gathering!