Last visit was: 23 Sep 2026, 04:41 It is currently 23 Sep 2026, 04:41
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 23 Sep 2026
Posts: 113,798
Own Kudos:
843,096
 [2]
Given Kudos: 111,773
Products:
GMAT Club Tests
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 113,798
Kudos: 843,096
 [2]
In a school election, there were two candidates for class president. 20 Nov 2019, 01:41
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
E
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

35% (medium)

Question Stats:

89% (01:52) correct 11% (02:24) wrong based on 18 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
In a school election, there were two candidates for class president. The candidate who got 40% of the votes polled was defeated by 16000 votes. Calculate the total number of votes.

A 24000
B 28000
C 30000
D 35000
E 40000

Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Problem Solving (PS) Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block below for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
E
User avatar
Archit3110
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 18 Aug 2017
Last visit: 23 Sep 2026
Posts: 8,825
Own Kudos:
5,350
Given Kudos: 243
Status:You learn more from failure than from success.
Location: India
Concentration: Sustainability, Marketing
GMAT Focus 1: 545 Q79 V79 DI73
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
GPA: 4
WE:Marketing (Energy)
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
Posts: 8,825
Kudos: 5,350
In a school election, there were two candidates for class president. Updated on: 21 Nov 2019, 02:01
Originally posted by Archit3110 on 20 Nov 2019, 01:58.
Last edited by Archit3110 on 21 Nov 2019, 02:01, edited 1 time in total.
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
In a school election, there were two candidates for class president. The candidate who got 40% of the votes polled was defeated by 16000 votes. Calculate the total number of votes.

A 24000
B 28000
C 30000
D 35000
E 40000
Show more

total votes = x
.4x= .6x-16000
x=80,000
Bunuel please review answer choices..
avatar
RajKomanapalli
avatar
Joined: 26 Jun 2017
Last visit: 18 Jul 2020
Posts: 20
Own Kudos:
14
 [1]
Given Kudos: 15
Posts: 20
Kudos: 14
 [1]
In a school election, there were two candidates for class president. 20 Nov 2019, 05:51
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I have done this in a different way. But got a wrong answer

Candidate who won got 60% of the votes and the candidate who lost got 40% of the votes.
The difference in the percentage is 20% and the 2nd candidate lost by 16000 votes.

let us assume the total numbers of votes polled as x

so,

20 % of x = 16000

x =\( \frac{16000 * 100}{20}\)

x = 80,000

Can you please tell where i went wrong
avatar
navaneethmmb
avatar
Joined: 27 Apr 2015
Last visit: 04 Feb 2021
Posts: 22
Own Kudos:
31
Given Kudos: 33
Location: Singapore
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
Schools: NUS '21 ISB '20 IIMA PGPX"20
GMAT 1: 620 Q47 V28
GPA: 3.32
Schools: NUS '21 ISB '20 IIMA PGPX"20
GMAT 1: 620 Q47 V28
Posts: 22
Kudos: 31
In a school election, there were two candidates for class president. 20 Nov 2019, 08:04
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
In a school election, there were two candidates for class president. The candidate who got 40% of the votes polled was defeated by 16000 votes. Calculate the total number of votes.

A 24000
B 28000
C 30000
D 35000
E 40000
Show more


Let the total number of votes = x
Assuming voter participation = 100%, Let the two students be A & B, and A gets 40% votes

Now, it is given B's votes are 16000 higher than A's vote count

i.e., 60%(x) = 16000 + 40%(x)
=> 0.6x = 0.4x + 16000

=> 0.2x = 16000 or 2x = 160,000 ==> x = 80,000

I'm not sure where my calculations are incorrect.
avatar
IHS
avatar
Joined: 12 Jan 2019
Last visit: 08 Apr 2021
Posts: 2
Own Kudos:
3
Given Kudos: 108
GMAT 1: 690 Q49 V36
Products:
My Reviews
GMAT 1: 690 Q49 V36
Posts: 2
Kudos: 3
In a school election, there were two candidates for class president. 20 Nov 2019, 09:55
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I have exactly the same doubt as fellows above.

16000 is the difference between 2 candidates and one got 40% of the vote the other got 60%, so 20% is 16000 votes so 100% is 80000 votes.

Please please explain what part of the questions are we missing.

Posted from my mobile device
avatar
Shorub
avatar
Joined: 28 Apr 2019
Last visit: 21 Jul 2020
Posts: 41
Own Kudos:
11
Given Kudos: 56
Posts: 41
Kudos: 11
In a school election, there were two candidates for class president. 21 Nov 2019, 01:47
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Total x
Difference between winner and loser
0.6x-0.4x = 16000

x = 80000

Can't find the answer in the options. Am I missing something?

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
rajatchopra1994
User avatar
Joined: 16 Feb 2015
Last visit: 22 Jun 2024
Posts: 1,052
Own Kudos:
1,350
 [1]
Given Kudos: 30
Location: United States
Posts: 1,052
Kudos: 1,350
 [1]
In a school election, there were two candidates for class president. 21 Nov 2019, 01:55
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Shorub IHS navaneethmmb RajKomanapalli Archit3110

I have raised this already with Bunuel with a personnel message at the time he just posted this question. Till now he has not replied.

See the attached file.

hope he will edit this question soon

:please Please give kudos, if you find my explanation good enough :please
Attachments

File comment: See this
bunuel.PNG
bunuel.PNG [ 53.2 KiB | Viewed 2251 times ]

User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 23 Sep 2026
Posts: 113,798
Own Kudos:
843,096
Given Kudos: 111,773
Products:
GMAT Club Tests
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 113,798
Kudos: 843,096
In a school election, there were two candidates for class president. 21 Nov 2019, 02:09
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Archit3110
Bunuel
In a school election, there were two candidates for class president. The candidate who got 40% of the votes polled was defeated by 16000 votes. Calculate the total number of votes.

A 24000
B 28000
C 30000
D 35000
E 40000

total votes = x
.4x= .6x-16000
x=80,000
Bunuel please review answer choices..
Show more

____________________________
The topic is locked and archived.

Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Problem Solving (PS) Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
Moderator:
Bunuel
Math Expert
113798 posts