Question 84

In an election, the votes cast for two of the candidates were in the ratio 5:7. If the successful candidates received 20734 votes, how many votes did his opponents receive?

Given, the ratio of votes for two candidates = 5 : 7
Let the votes be 5x and 7x.
For successful candidates votes are greater.

Using unitary method in which first we find the value of one unit and then the value of the required number of units.
Hence, $7x=20734$
$x=\frac{20734}{7}=2962$
Number of votes of his opponent = $5x$
= $5\times 2962$
= 14810

Hence, his opponents received 14810 votes.