The ratio of yes to no votes is 4 to 7. If there were 3996 yes votes, what was the total number of votes?

Question

I need help finding the total number of votes, I know I have to cross multiply I just need help with it.

Answer 1

Hello!

Nerd alert here - I love ratio problems! Here's how you're going to set this up:

First, set 4/7 as the ratio of "yes" to "no" votes and set it equal to 3996/x. Once you cross multiply you'll have 4x=(3996)(7). Multiply 3996 times 7 and then divide by 4. That will give you the number of "no" votes (6993). The question asks for the total number of votes, so you will add the number of "yes" votes (3996) and the "no" votes you just found. I got a total of 10,989 votes!

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

To solve this you would set up a proportion and cross multiply.

Let x = Number of No votes

4/7 = 3996/x Cross multiply

4x=7(3996) Simplify

4x=27972 Divide both sides by 4

4x/4=27972/4

x=6993 No votes

Total number of votes = yes votes + no votes

Total = 3996+6993

Total Votes = 10,989