Answer:
There were 24 vans in the parking lot.
Explanation:
Let
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.