Passing status across five subjects

Let the marks obtained in the five subjects be $10x, 9x, 8x, 7x,$ and $6x$. Total marks obtained = $10x + 9x + 8x + 7x + 6x = 40x$.

Since total marks obtained is 60% of total maximum marks ($M$): $0.60 M = 40x \implies M = \frac{40x}{0.6} = \frac{200x}{3}$

Maximum marks per subject = $\frac{M}{5} = \frac{40x}{3} \approx 13.33x$.

The pass mark per subject is 50% of maximum marks per subject: $\text{Pass mark} = 0.50 \times \frac{40x}{3} = \frac{20x}{3} \approx 6.67x$

Comparing the student's marks in each subject with $6.67x$:

• Subject 1: $10x > 6.67x$ (Pass)
• Subject 2: $9x > 6.67x$ (Pass)
• Subject 3: $8x > 6.67x$ (Pass)
• Subject 4: $7x > 6.67x$ (Pass)
• Subject 5: $6x < 6.67x$ (Fail)

Hence, the student passed in 4 subjects.