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Candidate A, B and C contesting elections...

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Candidate A, B and C contesting elections...

by AAPL » Thu Feb 08, 2018 2:31 pm
Candidates A, B, and C contesting elections. Each voter can only vote for a single candidate. 20% of the voters refrained from voting and candidates A, B, and C received votes in the ratio 4:3:1 respectively. If there were no invalid votes and Candidate C got 2 million votes, then how many voters (in millions) refrained from voting?

A. 2
B. 2.4
C. 3.2
D. 4
E. 8

The OA is D.

If ratio = A:B:C = 4:3:1

But C =2 millions

I don't have clear this PS question. I appreciate if any expert explains it to me. Thank you so much.
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Candidate A, B and C contesting elections...

by regor60 » Fri Feb 09, 2018 8:40 am
The problems indicates that 20% of eligible voters did not vote, meaning 80% did vote.

The votes cast in the proportion of 4:3:1, find the common denominator by adding the numbers together = 8.

So A received 4/8 or 1/2 the vote, B 3/8 and C 1/8.

Since 80% of the eligible voters voted and of that number C accounted for 1/8, therefore 80% x 1/8 = 10% of the total eligible voter pool voted for C.

Since C received 2 million vote, which was 10% of the total voter pool, the total voter pool must be 2 million/10% = 20 million.

Therefore, the number of eligible voters who did not vote = 20% x 20 million = 4 million, D
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by [email protected] » Fri Feb 09, 2018 10:12 am
Hi AAPL,

We're told that Candidates A, B, and C are the 3 candidates in an election and that each voter can only vote for a single candidate. 20% of the voters refrained from voting, candidates A, B, and C received votes in the ratio 4:3:1 respectively and Candidate C got 2 million votes. We're asked for the number of voters (in millions) who refrained from voting. This question is ultimately about percents/ratios, so you can approach the math in a variety of different ways.

Based on the given information, we know that the 80% of the voters DID vote. The candidates received votes in a ratio of 4:3:1, meaning that the 80% is distributed 40%/30%/10% to the 3 candidates, respectively. Candidate C received 2 million votes - and those votes represented 10% of the overall total (including voters and non-voters). Since 20% of the people did NOT vote - and that 20% is DOUBLE the 10%, the number of people who did not vote is...

(2)(2 million) = 4 million

Final Answer: D

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