In an election, there are only two candidates A and B. A gets 60% of the total votes polled and wins the election by 960 votes. What is the number of total votes polled ?

1. 40%

2. 6400

3. 3200

4. 4800

Given:

Votes polled by A = 60% of the total votes.

A wins the election by = 960 votes.

Votes polled by B = (100% - 60%) of the total votes = 40% of the total votes.

Let $x$ be the total number of votes. Hence,

Votes polled by A - Votes polled by B = 960

⇒ 60% of the total votes - 40% of the total votes = 960

⇒ 60% of $x$ - 40% of $x$ = 960

⇒ (60% - 40%) of $x$ = 960

⇒ (20%) of $x$ = 960

⇒ $\dfrac{20}{100} \times x = 960$

⇒ $\dfrac{1}{5} \times x= 960$

⇒ $x = \dfrac{960 \times 5}{1}$

⇒ $x = 4,800$

Hence, option 4 is the correct option.