Question

there are 792 workers in a factory. if the number of male workers is 20%less than that of female workers, then the number of male workers is?


answer:352
i always get confused with the equation of this type of quesion. Thanks:)

Answer 1

let the number of males be x
then the number of females = 792-x

percentage of males = x/792
percentage of females = (792-x)/792

(792-x)/792 - x/792 = .20
times 792
792-x - x = 158.4
-2x = -663.6
x = 316.8 , can't have partial people

So there are 317 males and 475 females

check:
percentage of males = 317/792 = .400 or 40%
percentage of females = 475/792 = .5997 or 60%
so percentage of males is 20% less

My answer is correct

How did you get 352 ?

Answer 2

it is a mc question :
A.352
B.360
C.432
D.440

the solution book shows that the answer is A

Answer 3

thanks so much:)
i think i found the answer:

let the number of male and female workers be m and f respectively.

m+f=762 (1)
m=f(1-20%) (2)
m=352,f=440

Answer 4

If that answer is supposed to be correct, then
males = 352 , females = 440
percentage of males = 352/792 = appr 44.4%
percentage of females = 440/792 = appr 55.6%
which is NOT 20% difference.

So the choice are clearly all wrong.

Since I showed that my answer is correct, what doubt do you have ?