In a class of 28 students, one student is to be elected as class

Question

In a class of 28 students, one student is to be elected as class representative. Three of the 28 students are running for the position. The three candidates may not vote, but all the other students must vote. What is the smallest percent of votes with which a candidate could win, if winning is defined as receiving a plurality of votes (more votes than any other candidate)?

(A) 25%
(B) 33.34%
(C) 34%
(D) 36%
(E) 50.1%

(A) 25% 
(B) 33.34% 
(C) 34% 
(D) 36% 
(E) 50.1%

amanvermagmat · Answer

So 25 people (28-3) are voting for 3 people. 
If we divide 25 by 3, we get 
25 = (3*8 +1)

So 3 people can each get 8 votes and the candidate who gets 1 remaining vote can be the winner.
So minimum votes required to win = 9. 
Required percent = 9/25 * 100 = 36%

Hence  D

sashiim20 · Answer

In a class of 28 students, one student is to be elected as class representative. Three of the 28 students are running for the position. The three candidates may not vote, but all the other students must vote. What is the smallest percent of votes with which a candidate could win, if winning is defined as receiving a plurality of votes (more votes than any other candidate)?
(A) 25%
(B) 33.34%
(C) 34%
(D) 36%
(E) 50.1%

Total number of Students = 28
Number of Students running for class representative position = 3
Candidates/Students may not vote = 3
Therefore Total number of students who must vote = 28 - 3 = 25
Required fraction = \(\frac{25}{3}\) = 8.333
ie; each of three candidates can get 8 equal votes.
8 x 3 = 24, thus 1 vote remains.
Candidate who gets 1 more vote could win. Therefore winning candidate would get 9 votes.
Required Percentage = \(\frac{9}{25}\) x 100 = 36%
Answer D...

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danlew · Answer

Total votes = 28-3 = 25
To win by the smallest margin, one of the candidates needs just a little over  \frac{1}{3}  of total votes =  \frac{1}{3} *25  \approx{9}

Percentage of the votes =  \frac{9}{25} *100 = 36%

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi All,

Based on how the answer choices are written, and the 'design' of the prompt, there's a big logic 'shortcut' that you can use to avoid most of the 'math work.' Since there are only 25 voters who must vote, each voter represents 4% of the total. The answer to the given question will be based on the number of voters who vote for a particular student, but the percentage equivalent MUST be a multiple of 4%.

There's only one answer that fits that restriction (the correct one):  D

It's unlikely that you would come across this exact shortcut on Test Day though (the GMAT question writers wouldn't make it this easy for you to bypass all of the wrong answers).

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, 
Rich

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Since 25 students are voting and there are 3 candidates, a candidate needs to have at least 9 students to vote for him or her in order to receive a plurality of votes. Therefore, the smallest percent of votes is 9/25 = 36/100 = 36%.

Answer: D

Abhishek009 · Answer

Out of 28 , 3 doesn't vote, so only 25 are voting for 3 candidates

Thus, avg no of votes/candidates is a bit more than 8 (Since 25/3 = 3.xx)

Hence, winning candidate will win if he receives at least 1 more vote, ie 9 vote....

Hence, smallest percent of votes required by the winning candidate will be 9/25*100 = 36%, Answer must be (D)

bumpbot · Answer

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