Initially, 40% of the students at the school dance are freshmen. Then, 15 more freshmen arrive, after which 52% of the students at the dance are freshmen. How many students are now at the dance after the additional freshmen arrive?

Me with this assignment ! i only partially understand, so explain. also it's a work sample. at the championship bike race, steve and paula were fighting for first place. steve was 175 feet ahead of paula and had only 300 feet left to go. he was very tired and was going only 9 feet per second. paula was desperate to catch up and was going 15 feet per second. who won the bike race and by how far did she/he win?