Question

In an election, between 2 candidates 25% voters did not cast their votes. A candidate scored 40% of the votes polled and was defeated by 900 votes. Find the total number of voters.

Answer 1

Let total number of voters be i
Number of voters who did not vote = 25%
Number of votes polled = i - 25% N = i - 0.25 i = 0.75 i
Number of votes polled for losing candidate = 40 % of 0.75 i
  = 0.40 * 0.75 i
  = 0.3 i
Number of votes polled for winning candidate = 0.3 i + 900
Number of votes polled = 0.75 i = 0.3i + (.3 i  +900) 
                 0.15 i = 900
             i = 6000 = total number of voters.