Question

There are two parties in an election the ratio of their votes is 2:3. The total number of voters who took part in that election are 1200. How many votes did the winning party get?

(a) 480

(b) 600

(c) 1200

(d) 720

This question was addressed to me in an international level competition.

I'd like to ask this question from Applications of Linear Equation (Just Solving the Equations) in section Linear Equations in One Variable of Mathematics – Class 8

Answer 1

Right option is (d) 720

For explanation I would say: Let the common ratio be x.

∴ 2x + 3x = 1200

∴ 5x = 1200

∴ x = 240

The party which gets higher number of votes wins the election so, the party which has 3x votes is the winning party.

Number of votes = 3x

= 3 × 240

= 720.