Holmes junior high has 125 more students than harper junior high. when the two schools are merged there will be 809 students. how many students currently attend each school?

 There are 467 students at Holmes Junior High.

               There are 342 students at Harper Junior High.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let " x" represent the number of students at Harper Jr. High.

Holmes Junior has:  " (x + 125) "  students .

Harper Junior High has:  " x"  students:

Together, the total number of students equal:  " 809 " students.

so:  " x + (x + 125) = 809 " .

We want to solve for "x" and " (x + 125)" .

We want to solve for "x" ;  

 then we can solve for " (x + 125) "  by adding "125" ;

                                                       to our "solved value for "x" ;

   x + (x + 125)  = 809 .

  →  1x + 1x + 125 = 809 ;

  →   2x + 125 = 809  ;

Now, subtract "125" from each side of the equation:

  →   2x + 125 - 125 = 809 - 125 ;

  →   2x  =  684 ;

Now, divide each side of the equation by "2" ;

     to isolate:  "x" on one side of the equation; & to solve for "x" ;

  →   2x/ 2 =  684 / 2  ;

to get:

  →    x = 342 ;  which is the total number of students at Harper Jr. High.

Now,  to solve for:  " (x + 125)" ;

Plug in:  "342" for "x" ;

 →  " (342 + 125) " = " 467 " '

 →  which is the total number of students at Holmes Jr. High.

Do our answers make sense:

Does:  " 342 + 467 =?  809 ?? " ;

          →  Yes!

 There are 467 students at Holmes Junior High.

                There are 342 students at Harper Junior High.

Hope this helps!

    Best wishes to you in your academic endeavors

              — and within the community!