Question: If the ratio of men to women in a class is 3:5 and the class has 24 people, how many additional men would have to enroll to make the ratio of men to women 1:1?

(A) 3
(B) 6
(C) 9
(D) 12
(E) 15

Correct Answer: B 
Solution with Explanation
Approach Solution 1:

total =24
ratio of men:women = 3:5

total = 3+5 = 8
24/8 =3

men = 9
women=15

15-9 =6

Approach Solution 2:

Total people = 24

ratio of Men and women = 3:5

Men = [3/(3+5)]*24 = (3/8)*24 = 9
WoMen = [5/(3+5)]*24 = (3/8)*24 = 15

Needed ratio of men and women = 1:1 i.e. equal number of men and women are needed

hence men needed = 15-9 = 6

Approach Solution 3:

Ratio of men to women: 3x/5x
Total of ratio parts: 3x + 5x = 8x
Total number of persons: 24
8x=24
= multiplier that yields the actual number of men and women from the original ratio
Men = 3x=(3)(3)=9
Women = 5x=(5)(3)=15

To get a 1:1 ratio, we need the same number of men and women. We need 15 men. There are 9. We need 6 more men.

“If the ratio of men to women in a class is 3:5 and the class has 24 people” - is a topic of the GMAT Quantitative reasoning section of GMAT. This question has been borrowed from the book “GMAT Official Guide Quantitative Review”.

To understand GMAT Problem Solving questions, applicants must possess fundamental qualitative skills. Quant tests a candidate's aptitude in reasoning and mathematics. The GMAT Quantitative test's problem-solving phase consists of a question and a list of possible responses. By using mathematics to answer the question, the candidate must select the appropriate response. The problem-solving section of the GMAT Quant topic is made up of very complicated math problems that must be solved by using the right math facts.

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