Question

A shoe manufacturer markets a new athletic shoe in a community of 500,000 people. The marketing representative convinces 35% of the community to buy the shoe. Additionally, each customer convinces 35% of his or her friends that have not bought the shoe to do so. What total percentage of the population will buy the shoe?

Answer 1

The second part of the question makes no sense.
How are we to know how many friends each member of the first group has?
Two or more members could have the same friends, there would surely be overlap.

Answer 2

53.8 percent is the answer. Don't question. We are everywhere.