1. **State the problem:** We are given the number of boys in a school as 120 and the ratio of boys to girls as 5:7. We need to find the total number of students in the school. 2. **Understand the ratio:** The ratio 5:7 means for every 5 boys, there are 7 girls. 3. **Set up the ratio equation:** Let the common multiplier be $x$. Then, $$\text{Number of boys} = 5x$$ $$\text{Number of girls} = 7x$$ 4. **Use the given number of boys to find $x$:** $$5x = 120$$ $$x = \frac{120}{5} = 24$$ 5. **Find the number of girls:** $$7x = 7 \times 24 = 168$$ 6. **Calculate the total number of students:** $$\text{Total} = \text{boys} + \text{girls} = 120 + 168 = 288$$ **Final answer:** The total number of students in the school is 288.