<PRE><B>Question 758275</B>
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. :-)</PRE>