Question

In the election for student council, Candidate A received 55% of the total votes, while Candidate B received 1541 votes. If Candidate C received 40% of the votes that Candidate A received, how many total votes were cast?

Answer 1

6700

Explanation:

Hello!

To solve this problem we must raise a small equation, consider the following!

1. the variable we call X is the total number of votes

2. If we add the votes of all the candidates, it will result in the total number of votes

3. number of votes for candidate A = X (55%) = 0.55X

4.number of votes for candidate b = 1541

5. number of votes for candidate C = 40% (0.55X) = (0.4) (0.55) X = 0.22X

we raise the equation

0.55X+1541+0.22X=X

Now we solve for X, using algebraic operations on both sides of the equation

`0.55X+1541+0.22X=X\\1541=X-0.55X-0.22X\\1541=X(1-0.55-0.22)\\1541=0.23X\\X=(1541)/(0.23) =6700\\total votes=6700`