Class attendance — 3/5 of the class are girls, rest boys. If 2/9 of girls and 1/4 of boys are absent, what fraction of the whole class is present?

Introduction / Context:
This fraction problem blends part-whole reasoning with attendance percentages. We break the class into girls and boys, apply absence rates to each, and then recombine to find the present fraction of the total.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Total class size = T (any positive value; it will cancel).
• Girls = (3/5) * T; Boys = (2/5) * T.
• Absent girls = (2/9) of girls; Absent boys = (1/4) of boys.
• Present = Total - Absent (computed partwise).

Concept / Approach:
Compute present girls and present boys separately, then add. Because T is a common factor, the final result will be a fraction independent of T.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Pick T = 30 for easy numbers: Girls 18, Boys 12. Absent girls 4, present girls 14. Absent boys 3, present boys 9. Total present = 23 out of 30 = 23/30. Matches.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• 17/25, 18/49, 23/36 — do not match the computed present fraction based on the stated proportions and absences.

Common Pitfalls:
Applying absence rates to the wrong subgroup or adding absence fractions directly across groups. Always compute subgroup presents, then sum and simplify.

Final Answer:
23/30