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In a village, the ratio of number of males to females is 5:4. The ratio of number of literate males to literate females is 2:3. The ratio of the number of illiterate males to illiterate females is 4:3. If 3600 males in the village are literate, then the total number of females in the village is

Updated On: Jan 15, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Given:

  • Male to female ratio in the village: 5:4
  • Literate male to literate female ratio: 2:3
  • Illiterate male to illiterate female ratio: 4:3
  • Number of literate males: 3600

Step 1: Represent the total number of males and females using a common variable.

  • Males = $5x$
  • Females = $4x$

Step 2: Define the number of literate males and females based on their given ratio.

Let $y$ be the common multiple for literate individuals.

  • Literate males = $2y$
  • Literate females = $3y$

Step 3: Use the provided number of literate males to find the value of $y$.

Given literate males = 3600, so $2y = 3600$, which means $y = 1800$.

Calculate the number of literate females:

  • Literate females = $3 \times 1800 = 5400$

Step 4: Define the number of illiterate males and females based on their given ratio.

Let $z$ be the common multiple for illiterate individuals.

  • Illiterate males = $4z$
  • Illiterate females = $3z$

Step 5: Formulate an equation for the total number of males.

Total males = Literate males + Illiterate males

$5x = 3600 + 4z$

Step 6: Formulate an equation for the total number of females.

Total females = Literate females + Illiterate females

$4x = 5400 + 3z$

Solve for $x$ by expressing it in terms of $z$ from both equations and equating them:

From Step 5: $x = \frac{3600 + 4z}{5}$

From Step 6: $x = \frac{5400 + 3z}{4}$

Equating the expressions for $x$:

$\frac{3600 + 4z}{5} = \frac{5400 + 3z}{4}$

Cross-multiplying to solve for $z$:

$4(3600 + 4z) = 5(5400 + 3z)$

$14400 + 16z = 27000 + 15z$

$16z - 15z = 27000 - 14400$

$z = 12600$

Calculate the value of $x$:

$x = \frac{3600 + 4 \times 12600}{5} = \frac{3600 + 50400}{5} = \frac{54000}{5} = 10800$

Determine the total number of females:

Total number of females = $4x = 4 \times 10800 = \boxed{43200}$

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