To determine what Alanna needs to score on her fourth assessment to achieve an overall average of 86%, we can use the following steps.

The formula for the average of four assessments is:

$\text{Average} = \frac{S_1 + S_2 + S_3 + S_4}{4}$

Where $S_1$, $S_2$, and $S_3$ are the scores she already has, and $S_4$ is the unknown score she needs to achieve.

Given the scores:

• $S_1 = 72$
• $S_2 = 80$
• $S_3 = 94$

We know the desired average is 86. Plugging everything into the equation:

$86 = \frac{72 + 80 + 94 + S_4}{4}$

Now, let's solve for $S_4$.

$86 \times 4 = 72 + 80 + 94 + S_4$

$344 = 246 + S_4$

$S_4 = 344 - 246$

$S_4 = 98$

So, Alanna needs to score 98 on her fourth assessment to achieve an overall average of 86%.

Would you like further details or clarifications? Here are some related questions:

1. How do averages work in different scenarios?
2. What if Alanna had scored differently on one of her assessments?
3. How would the required score change if the desired average was different?
4. Can you explain weighted averages and how they differ?
5. What strategies can Alanna use to improve her scores?

Tip: Always check the total number of assessments or tests when calculating averages to ensure accuracy!