SOLUTION: Four students ran for a class president. In the election, Gloria got 50% of the votes, Kenny got 25%, Art got 12.5%, and Stuart got 40 votes. How many students voted in this elect

Algebra ->  Percentages: Solvers, Trainers, Word Problems and pie charts -> SOLUTION: Four students ran for a class president. In the election, Gloria got 50% of the votes, Kenny got 25%, Art got 12.5%, and Stuart got 40 votes. How many students voted in this elect      Log On


   

Question 72817: Four students ran for a class president. In the election, Gloria got 50% of the votes, Kenny got 25%, Art got 12.5%, and Stuart got 40 votes. How many students voted in this election.
POSSIBLE ANSWERS:
A. 80
B. 200
C. 160
D. 320
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Set up this equation
.5t%2B.25t%2B.125t%2B40=t The left side is 50% of the total (t), plus 25% of t, plus 12.5% of t and finally plus 40 equals the total.
Now solve for t
.875t%2B40=tAdd like terms.
40=t-.875tSubtract .875t from both sides
40=.125tSubtract like terms
40%2F.125=tDivide .125 on both sides
t=320
So the total number who voted was 320 people
Check:
.5%28320%29%2B.25%28320%29%2B.125%28320%29%2B40=320
160%2B80%2B40%2B40=320
320=320Works