Question

If 8 labourers were paid Rs 1760, how much must 20 labourers be paid at the same rate?

Answer 1

Money paid to 8 labourers is Rs 1760.
Let money paid to 20 labourers be Rs x.
The given information can be represented in the following table:

Money paid to labourers (in Rs): x	1760	x
Number of labourers: y	8	20

Here money paid to labourers and number of labourers are in direct proportion because money paid to labourers will increase with an increase in their number. In direct variation, the ratio of the money paid to labourers to the number of labourers must be constant, i.e
$$\begin{gathered} \frac{x_1}{y_1}=\frac{x_2}{y_2} \\ \therefore \frac{1760}{8}=\frac{x}{20} \\ x=\frac{1760}{8}\times 20=\mathrm{Rs}4400 \end{gathered}$$
Thus, money paid to 20 labourers is Rs 4400.