The ratio of men to women in the applicants for Lamborghini this year is 4:3, while the ratio of men to women in the successful applicants is 5:3, and the ratio of men to women in the rejected pile is 1:1. If the number of successful applicants is 176, what is the number of applicants?

make a chart, consisting of 3 columns and 2 rows

label the columns , (M)ale (F)emale (A)pplicants
and the rows, (S)uccess and (F)ailure

--- M- F-- A
S - 5x 3x 8x
F - y .. y .. 2y

given:
"the number of successful applicants is 176"
---> 8x = 176
x = 22

"The ratio of men to women in the applicants for Lamborghini this year is 4:3"
---> 8x/2y = 4/3
8y = 24x
y = 3x = 66

number of applicants = 8x + 2y = 176 + 132 = 308

CHECK:

successful males = 110
successful females = 66
for a total of successful applicants of 176 ✔

failing males = 66
failing females = 66

total male app = 110 + 66 = 176
total female app = 66 + 66 = 132

male appl : female app = 176 : 132 = 4:3 ✔
ratio of succ males : succ females = 110 : 66 = 5:3 ✔