SOLUTION: The ratio of cars to vans at an auto dealership is 8 to 1. If the total number of both cars and vans at the dealership is 189, find the number of cars and the number of vans.

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Question 758275: The ratio of cars to vans at an auto dealership is 8 to 1. If the total number of both cars and vans at the dealership is 189, find the number of cars and the number of vans.

Answer by PRMath(133) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
When you have a ratio problem, you can always think of it like this:
The ratio of cars to vans is 8 to 1. Just think of that as 8x to 1x.
If the TOTAL number of cars and vans is 189, just take the info above and set up the equation like this:
8x + 1x = 189 (equation)
9x = 189 (add the like terms together)
x = 21 (divide both sides by 9 to isolate the x)
Now you know that x equals 1. Plug that into your ratios like this:
CARS
8x
8(21) = 168
VANS
1x
1(21) = 21
That means there are 168 cars and 21 vans. You can check that like this:
168 cars + 21 vans = 189 cars and vans total.
I hope this helps. :-)