In an examination 60% of the candidates failed, the number of candidates who passed was 500. Find the number that failed
Let's call the total number of candidates "x".
We're given that 60% of the candidates failed, which means that 40% passed.
If we know that 40% passed and the number who passed was 500, we can set up a proportion:
40/100 = 500/x
Simplifying:
0.4 = 500/x
Multiplying both sides by x:
0.4x = 500
Dividing both sides by 0.4:
x = 1250
So the total number of candidates was 1250.
We also know that 500 passed, so:
60% failed = 40% passed
60% of 1250 = 750 candidates failed.