Question

A marketing company surveys 1,200 people. They surveyed twice as many females as males. How many males and females did they survey?

Short answer

They surveyed 400 males and 800 females.

Step-by-step solution

Given 

A marketing company surveys 1,200 people. They surveyed twice as many females as males.

To determine 

How many males and females did they survey?

Calculation 

Let,

There are x males and y females.

According to the question:

$$\begin{gathered} y=2x \\ x+y=1200 \end{gathered}$$

Plug $y=2x$in the other equation.

$$\begin{gathered} x+y=1200 \\ x+2x=1200 \\ 3x=1200 \\ x=400 \\ 2x=800 \end{gathered}$$

Hence, there are 400 males and 800 females.