Question

The ratio of annoying telemarketing calls to deceptive junk mails was 2:3. If there were 5,000 annoying telemarketing calls and deceptive junk mails combined, how many annoying telemarketing calls were there?

Answer 1

Answer: 2,000

Explanation:

You can write the equation
`2x + 3x = 5000`

Then combine like terms
`5x = 5000`

Divide by 5 on both sides
`x = 1000`

Find 2x
`2x = 2000`

Answer 2

Explanation:

Comment

Good question. Every answer above 0 is already too many. Let x be the base number to see how the 5000 is divided up.

Equation

2x + 3x = 5000

Solution

2x + 3x = 5000 Combine the left.

5x = 5000 Divide both sides by 5

5x/5 = 5000/5 Combine

x = 1000

Answer

2x = the number of telemarketers which is 2*1000 = 2000

3x = the number of junk mails which is 3*1000 = 3000

Notice the answers are 2000/3000 = 2:3 which is what it should

Answer: 2000 where telemarketers.