Question

the ratio of the number of cars to the number of vans in a parking lot was 5 : 2. After 1/3 of the cars left, there were 16 more cars than vans in the parking lot. How many vans were in the parking lot?

Answer 1

my answer is 32 because 2 of the 5 are the same as the vans and 3/3 is 1 which is 16 so 16 times 2 is 32 with 1/3 being 16 making the ratio 80:32

Answer 2

There were 24 vans in the parking lot.

Explanation:

Let

• c = number of cars

• v = number of vans

The ratio of the number of cars to the number of vans in a parking lot was 5:2.

c/v = 5/2

c = 5/2 v [1]

After 1/3 of the cars left, that is, there were 2/3 of the initial cars, there were 16 more cars than vans in the parking lot.

2/3 c = v + 16 [2]

If we replace [1] in [2],

2/3 . (5/2 v) = v + 16

5/3 v = v + 16

2/3 v = 16

v = 24

There were 24 vans in the parking lot.