Multiple choice

In an election contested by two candidates, one candidate secures 30 percent of the total votes cast and still loses the election by a margin of 500 votes. What was the total number of votes cast?

  1. 1000

  2. 1250

  3. 1500

  4. 1750

  5. 2000
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B Correct answer
Explanation

Candidate A gets 30%, so Candidate B gets 70%. The margin is 40% of total votes. 0.40 * Total = 500. Total = 500 / 0.40 = 1250.

AI explanation

If the losing candidate secures 30% of the total votes, the winning candidate must secure the remaining 70% of the total votes. The difference in their percentage of votes is 70% minus 30%, which is 40% of the total votes. Since this 40% margin corresponds to a difference of 500 votes, the total number of votes cast is 500 divided by 0.40, which equals 1250. The result is 1250.

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