Week 234 (4 February 2022)

At the office party there are twice as many males as females.

1/4 of the males are drinking wine and 3/8 of the females are drinking wine.

In total 84 people in the office drink wine.

Work out the total number of people at the party.

Answer

M = 2F

1/4 M + 3/8 F = 84

Substituting in from the first equation:

2F x ¼ + 3/8 F = 84

4F + 3F = 84 x 8 = 672

7 F = 672

F = 96

M = 2 x 96 = 192

So total at the party (assuming that no-one denies being there and everyone identifies as either male or female):

Total  = 96 + 192 = 288