In an election contested by only two candidates, one candidate got 30% of the total votes cast and lost by 500 votes. Determine the total number of votes that were cast in the elections?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → 1250
Let the total number of votes = x
Since there are only two candidates:
- One candidate got 30% votes
- The other got 70% votes
Difference in votes
$70\% - 30\% = 40\% \text{ of total votes}$
Given that the losing margin = 500 votes
$40\% \text{ of } x = 500$
$0.40x = 500$
$x = \frac{500}{0.40} = 1250$