SOLUTION: In a factory the ratio of male workers to female work- ers was 5 : 3, If the number of female workers was less by 40, find the total number of workers in the factory. a)120 b)1

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Question 694487: In a factory the ratio of male workers to female work- ers was 5 : 3, If the number of female workers was less by 40, find the total number of workers in the factory.
a)120
b)160
c)180
Answer by KMST(5328) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x = number of female workers
number of male workers = %285%2F3%29x
Total number of workers = x%2B%285%2F3%29x=x%281%2B5%2F3%29=x%288%2F3%29

The way I understand the problem, the number of female workers is 40 less than the number of male workers, so
x=%285%2F3%29x-40 --> 3x=3%28%285%2F3%29x-40%29 --> 3x=3%285%2F3%29x-3%2A40 --> 3x=5x-120%29

That equation is fairly easy to solve:
3x=5x-120 --> 3x-5x=5x-120-5x --> -2x=-120 --> -2x%2F%28-2%29=-120%2F%28-2%29 --> x=60

With the value of x, we can find the total number of workers:
Total number of workers = x%288%2F3%29=60%288%2F3%29=highlight%28160%29