text: another math problem... my teacher is mean tonight? math club membership grew froom 75 to 99 members at west junior high.  the increase represents a growth of 25% for girls and 40% for boys.  how many girls were in the math club last year? let g = # of girls in the math club last year (which is what we're looking for) and b = # of boys in the math club last year  g + b = 75, or b = 75 - g 1.25g + 1.4b = 99  therefore, 1.25g + 1.4(75 - g) = 99 1.25g + 105 - 1.4g = 99 105 - 0.15g = 99 -0.15g = -6 g = 40  (which means b = 35)  checking my work: a growth of 25% for girls would mean the number of girls went from 40 to 1.25*40, which is 50. a growth of 40% for boys would mean the number of boys went from 35 to 1.4*35, which is 49. and 50 + 49 = 99.