SOLUTION: Please help. I don't understand how to work this: The ratio of yes votes to no votes in an election was 3 to 5. How many yes votes were cast if there were a total of 4352 votes cas

Algebra ->  Probability-and-statistics -> SOLUTION: Please help. I don't understand how to work this: The ratio of yes votes to no votes in an election was 3 to 5. How many yes votes were cast if there were a total of 4352 votes cas      Log On


   

Question 446320: Please help. I don't understand how to work this: The ratio of yes votes to no votes in an election was 3 to 5. How many yes votes were cast if there were a total of 4352 votes cast?
Thank you, your help is very appreciated.
Found 2 solutions by rfer, josmiceli:
Answer by rfer(16322) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
3x+5x=4352
8x=4352
x=544
3x=1632 yes

Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let a = the number of yes votes
Let b = the number of no votes
given:
(1) +a+%2B+b+=+4352+
(2)
(2) +5a+=+3b+
(2) +a+=+%283%2F5%29%2Ab+
Substitute this into (1)
(1) +%283%2F5%29%2Ab+%2B+b+=+4352+
Multiply both sides by 5
(1) +3b+%2B+5b+=+5%2A4352+
(1) +8b+=+21760+
+b+=+2720+
and
(2) +a+=+%283%2F5%29%2Ab+
(2) +a+=+%283%2F5%29%2A2720+
(2) +a+=+8160%2F5+
+a+=+1632+
1632 yes votes were cast