SOLUTION: Brad and Alice were both running for student government president. One hundred twenty-eight students voted in the election. The ratio of the number of votes for Alice to the number

Algebra ->  Percentage-and-ratio-word-problems -> SOLUTION: Brad and Alice were both running for student government president. One hundred twenty-eight students voted in the election. The ratio of the number of votes for Alice to the number      Log On


   

Question 1018896: Brad and Alice were both running for student government president. One hundred twenty-eight students voted in the election. The ratio of the number of votes for Alice to the number of votes for Brad was 5 to 3. Based on the ratio how many students voted for each candidate?
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Alice/Brad = +5%2F3+
Alice/total of students = +5%2F%28+3+%2B+5+%29+=+5%2F8+
Let +a+ = number of votes for Alice
+5%2F8+=+a%2F128+
Multiply both sides by +128+
+5%2A16+=+a+
+a+=+80+
Let +b+ = number of votes for Brad
+a%2Fb+=+5%2F3+
+80%2Fb+=+5%2F3+
Multiply both sides by +3b+
+240+=+5b+
+b+=+48+
80 voted for Alice
48 voted for Brad
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check:
+a+%2B+b+=+128+
+80+%2B+48+=+128+
+128+=+128+
OK