Question

In an examination, the number of those who passed and the number of those who failed were in the ratio of 3 : 1. Had 8 more appeared, and 6 less passed, the ratio of passed to failures would have been 2 : 1. Find the number of candidates who appeared.

Answer 1

Let number of passed = 3 x
and failed = x
Total candidates appeared = 3x + x = 4x.
In second case
No. of candidates appeared = 4 x + 8
and No. of passed = 3 x – 6
and failed = 4x + 8 – 3x + 6 = x + 14
then ratio will be = 2 : 1
Now according to the condition
`(3x - 6)/(x + 14) = (2)/(1)`
⇒ 3x – 6 = 2x + 28
⇒ 3x – 2x = 28 + 6
⇒ x = 34
∴ No. of candidates appeared
= 4x
= 4x 34
= 136.