Question

The residents of a city voted on whether to raise property taxes. The ratio of yes votes to no votes was 5 to 8. If there were 6600 no votes, what was the total number of votes?

Answer 1

The total number of voters = 10725

Explanation:

The total number of votes cast was 5 + 8

The no votes ratio is 8/ 13

This question is a a proportion question.

A proportion question is 2 ratios equal to other. Three of the parts of the ratios are known and you are asked to find the fourth. In this question the no votes are known to be 8 and the total is 13.

The total no votes = 6600. So the three parts are known are

• no vote ratio = 8
• No vote number =6600
• total vote ratio part = 13
• You are asked to find the total number of voters.

8/13 = 6600/x Cross multiply

8x = 13*6600 Combine the right.

8x = 85800 Divide by 8

8x/8 = 85800/8

x = 10725

The total number of voters = 10725