In a given population of men and women 20 of the men are mar

In a given population of men and women, 20% of the men are married, and 30% of the women are married. What percent of the adult population is married? Assume the marriages are heterosexual and monogamous.

Solution

Let x be no. of women, so 30% of x is married = 0.3x

Let y be no. of men , so 20% of men are married = 0.2y

Total population = x+y

Now it must be true that no. of maried men =no.of married women : 0.3x = 0.2y

So, 3x =2y ----> y = 1.5x

% of population married =[ ( 0.3x or 0.2y )/(x+y)]*100

= [0.3x/( x+1.5x)]*100

=[ 0.3/(1+1.5)]*100

= 12%