In a survey, the ratio of the number of people who preferred tea to those who preferred coffee was 9:5 36 more people preferred tea to coffee.
How many people were in the survey?

45 people prefered coffee, 81 people prefered tea. A total of 126 people were surveyed.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let t be the people who prefer tea, and let c be the people who prefer coffee.

The ratio between tea and coffee is 9:5, thus we have t/c=9/5. Cross products  give us 5t=9c.

Also, we have 36 more people prefer tea than coffee, so we have c+36=t

Thus we have: 5(c+36)=9c

5c+180=9c

180=4c

c=45

c+36=t

45+36=81