In an election contested by two parties, Party D secured 12% of the to

Question

In an election contested by two parties, Party D secured 12% of the total votes more than Party R. If party R got 132,000 votes, by how many votes did it lose the election?

A. 24,000
B. 36,000
C. 168,000
D. 240,000
E. 300,000

Kurtosis · Accepted Answer

D + R = 100 ---- (1)
D - R = 12 ---- (2)
Solving (1) and (2) D = 56% and R = 44%
44% of Total = 132000
Total = 300000

D = 168000

Difference = 168000 - 132000 = 36000

Answer: B

Wilfy · Answer

Hi Vyshak,

Is there an alternative way to solve this problem? I'm also having trouble completing this problem quickly - going from 132,000 = (44/100)*x to finding the value of X.

Kurtosis · Answer

Hi Wilfy,

I do not know an alternate way to solve this problem without having any calculations. But, whenever there are 0's involved in the calculation, you can remove the zeros temporarily and append zeros after the calculation is completed. Here we can consider: 132 = 44 * x. So, x = 3. We can append 5 zeros after completing this small calculation.

stonecold · Answer

very confusing language used in this question..

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

We can let x = the percent of votes Party R got, and so (x + 12) = the percent of votes Party D got. We can create the equation:

x + x + 12 = 100

2x = 88

x = 44

Thus Party R got 44 percent of the votes and we are given that Party R got 132,000 votes. We can create the equation where n = the total number of votes:

0.44n = 132,000

44n = 13,200,000

n = 300,000

Since the total number of votes is 300,000, and Party R lost by 12% of the total votes, thus Party R lost by

0.12 x 300,000 = 36,000 votes

Answer: B

shashankism · Answer

Superb approach to solve the question.. I think we can't shorten the approach.. Its flawless..

shashankism · Answer

Sum of percentage of votes of D & R = 100% 
So, D+ R = 100

Difference of percentage of votes of D & R = 12% ( D being greater than R )
D-R = 12

2D = 112 
D= 56%

R = 44%

Now 44% of T = 132k
T = 132k/.44

So, R lost by 132k/.44 * .12 = 132k/.11 * 0.03 = 132k*3/11 = 12k * 3 = 36k = 36,000

Answer B

u1983 · Answer

Given: Party D secured  12%  of the total votes more than Party R
Hence Party R secured =  \frac{(100-12)}{2} = 44%  votes.

Now  44%  votes represent  132,000  votes in number. 
Thus  12%  represents =  \frac{132000}{44} * 12 = 36,000  votes in number.
Hence I would go for  option B .

sriramsundaram91 · Answer

Let  x  be the total no of votes,

then,

votes gained by winning party = totalvotes - votes gained by losing party.
Thus votes gained by winning party = x-132,000. ------------ (1)

But we also know,
votes gained by winning party = 132000 +12%of Total votes = 132000 + \frac{12}{100}  *x ------------ (2)

Equate (1) and (2)

x-132,000 = 132000 +  \frac{12}{100} *x
Solving for x, we get,
x = 300,000 which is the total no of votes.
12% of x = 36000.
 
Option B.

Kinshook · Answer

Given: In an election contested by two parties, Party D secured 12% of the total votes more than Party R. 
Asked: If party R got 132,000 votes, by how many votes did it lose the election?

Let the total votes be x.
Party D secured 12% of the total votes more than Party R. 
Votes of Party D = .12x + Votes of Party R = .12x + 132,000

x = Votes of Party D + Votes of Party R = Votes of Party D + 132,000

Votes of Party D = .12(Votes of Party D + 132,000) + 132,000
.88* Votes of Party D = 1.12*132,000
Votes of Party D = 1.12*132,000/.88 = 112*1,500 = 168000

Number of votes by which party R lost the election = .12x = .12(168000+132000) = 36000

IMO B

shivansh2501 · Answer

The key to this question lies in the language, party D secured 12 % of the total votes more than party R, which means,

Let D be the votes secured by party D
Let R be the votes secured by party R

D = 0.12*(D+R) + R
=> D = (14/11)*R
=> D = (14/11)*132,000
=> D = 168,000

Votes by which party D lost the election = R - D = 168,000 - 132,000 = 36,000

Hence, (B) is the correct answer.

findingmyself · Answer

Decoding this nice and easy:

X=Total votes
D=Votes secured by Party D
R=Votes secured by Party R

(12% of X)+R=D (From the question)------(1)
D+R=X (From logic that total votes will be the sum of D and R)-----(2)
Substituting equation 2 in 1
(12% of (D+R))+R=D
.12D+.12R+R=D
.88D=1.12R
D= 1.12R/.88

What we need to find is difference of votes between winning and loosing party which is (D-R)
D-R= (1.12R/.88)-R
=R((1.12/.88)-1)
Substitute value of R (132,000) and you will get 36000.

Two tricks:
1. Dont use the big value till end
2. Avoid word traps in the problem by relating this to a real election scenario.

DiveshR · Answer

Well technically ... if the total votes are 300,000, and party R secured 132,000, they just needed 18,001 more votes to win the majority (just above 50%).

I don't understand why they "lost by" 36,000 votes.

Bunuel  (I don't know how to tag a user lol)

Bunuel · Answer

The phrase "lost by" refers to the difference in actual votes received between Party D and Party R, not how many more votes R needed to win.

Total votes = 300,000

Party R got 132,000 votes.

Party D got 168,000 votes.

Difference = 168,000 - 132,000 = 36,000 votes

That's how much Party R lost by.

P.S. To tag a user, type @ followed by their exact username.

In an election contested by two parties, Party D secured 12% of the to

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In an election contested by two parties, Party D secured 12% of the to

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