In a spelling bee 50% of the students were eliminated after the first round. Only 1/3 of the remaining students were still in the contest after the second round. If 24 students were still in the contest after the second round, how many students began the contest?
x = starting number
x * .5 = number after first round
(x *.5) * 1/3 = after the second round = 24
x * .5 * 1/3 = 24 solve for 'x' to find starting number of students
x = starting number
x * .5 = number after first round
(x *.5) * 1/3 = after the second round = 24
x * .5 * 1/3 = 24 solve for 'x' to find starting number of students