please explain a math problem to me..

[patrick t. cakes]

im trying to figure out a simple equation with ratios.

if the ratio of private school students to public school students is 3 to 16 and there is a total of 18,601
students, how many students are in public school?

now i have the answer from the back of the book but for the life of me i cant figure out the steps
to reach it. im doing cross multiplicating and things of that nature but nothings doing.

the answer is 15,664 public school students.

the book nowhere explains this , or at least in any way decipherable to me.

im in a math for elementary educators class and this text book is ridiculous.
i know this is basic math, which is not my favorite, but its been years since ive
done anything with ratios.

any lounge math wizards out there? cheers