A rainstorm increased the amount of water stored in State J reservoirs from 50 billion gallons to 75 billion gallons. If the storm increased the amount of water in the reservoirs to 37.5 percent of total capacity, approximately how many billion gallons of water were the reservoirs short of total capacity prior to the storm?  Choose the correct choice from the following choices:
A) 90  B) 114  C) 124  D) 120  E) 127
After the reservoir is filled to 75 gallons the amount of water is at 37.5% - which means that 62.5% of the reservoir is empty. To figure out what that 62.5% is approximate: 75 gallons /37.5 percent = x gallons /62.5 percent , therefore, x = 125 gallons , answer choices A,B,C,D are below 125 . We know that the reservoir must be short more than 125 gallons, therefore, the only possible choice is 127.
<result>E</result>
A rainstorm increased the amount of water stored in State J reservoirs from 50 billion gallons to 75 billion gallons. If the storm increased the amount of water in the reservoirs to 37.5 percent of total capacity, approximately how many billion gallons of water were the reservoirs short of total capacity prior to the storm?