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Alternate Method

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Alternate Method

by Nycgrl » Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:05 pm
Mr. Kramer, the losing candidate in a two-candidate election, received 942,568 votes, which was exactly 40 percent of all the votes cast. Approximately what percent of the remaining votes would he need to have received in order to have won at least 50 percent of all the votes cast?
(A) 10%
(B) 12%
(C) 15%
(D) 17%
(E) 20%

Is there any short method to do it instead of doing all calculations
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Re: Alternate Method

by parallel_chase » Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:25 pm
Nycgrl wrote:Mr. Kramer, the losing candidate in a two-candidate election, received 942,568 votes, which was exactly 40 percent of all the votes cast. Approximately what percent of the remaining votes would he need to have received in order to have won at least 50 percent of all the votes cast?
(A) 10%
(B) 12%
(C) 15%
(D) 17%
(E) 20%

Is there any short method to do it instead of doing all calculations
Here the keyword is Approximately

942,568 = 1000000 approx.

since we are only dealing with percentages, we can even take 100

100 = 40/100 votes
total votes = 250

Candidate already has 100 votes
Remaining votes = 150

He need 50% at least = 250 * 50% = 125 votes

25/150 * 100 = 16.666% ~ 17%

I'll be surprised if the answer is 15%.

Here is another method that can help you.

40% current votes

at least 50% is required

10%/60% =1/6 *100 = 16.666% ~ 17%

Hope this helps
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by vishubn » Thu Aug 28, 2008 2:39 am
so we know 942,568 represents 40%

which is .4x=942,568

nwo total pop= x=2356420
so 50% of the total is =1178210

so the differnce of 1178210-942,568 is 235642

so he the candidate was short by 235642 votes

Now the question is the find wat percentage of remaining votes u need to get 50% vote

235642/1178210 which gives =20%
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by parallel_chase » Thu Aug 28, 2008 2:45 am
vishubn wrote:so we know 942,568 represents 40%

which is .4x=942,568

nwo total pop= x=2356420
so 50% of the total is =1178210

so the differnce of 1178210-942,568 is 235642

so he the candidate was short by 235642 votes
which is 10% of the total
So A is the answer
Vishu
We have calculate out of the remaining not total

therefore 235642/1413852 *100 = 16.666% ~ 17%

Hope this helps.
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by vishubn » Thu Aug 28, 2008 5:47 am
OOpsieee :)

Thanks for the correction

Vishu
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Re: Alternate Method

by stern » Thu Aug 28, 2008 10:58 am
Nycgrl wrote:Mr. Kramer, the losing candidate in a two-candidate election, received 942,568 votes, which was exactly 40 percent of all the votes cast. Approximately what percent of the remaining votes would he need to have received in order to have won at least 50 percent of all the votes cast?
(A) 10%
(B) 12%
(C) 15%
(D) 17%
(E) 20%

Is there any short method to do it instead of doing all calculations
Yes, there is a simple method. Kramer got 40%. He need 10% more to win atleast 50% of the total vote. What % is this 10% vote of the remaining 60%?

10/60*100= 16.666~17. You do not have to use 942,568 at all here. It does not matter if the # of votes is 123456789.
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