Percentages
Name : Daniella
Date: October 4, 2024
Soon Math
BASIC KNOWLEDGE
Terms
A percent is a ratio that compares a number to 100. It also means hundredths,
or per hundred. The symbol for percent is %.
Note: The word ”percent” consists of two parts: per and cent. Per means
”divide by” and cent means ”hundred.”
Percent is a special form of decimals and a more special form of fractions.
For example,
50
50% = = 0.5.
100
All the operation rules of decimals and fractions will apply to percent.
Percent of change:
A number is changed from the value of a to the value of b:
• If b > a, the percent of change (increase) is
b−a
× 100%.
a
• If b < a, the percent of change (decrease) is
a−b
× 100%.
a
1
PERCENTAGES INVOLVING MONEY
Example 1
The price of a skateboard is reduced 20% for the spring sale. It is then marked
up 20%. What fraction represents the new price compared to the original?
1
(A) 5
2
(B) 5
4
(C) 5
24
(D) 25
1
(E) 25
Example 2
Two consecutive discounts of 20% and 10% are equivalent to a single discount
of:
(A) 28%
(B) 15%
(C) 72%
(D) 30%
(E) 20%
Example 3
Successive discounts of 20%, 10%, and 50% would be equivalent to a single
discount of t%. What is the value of t?
(A) 36%
(B) 15%
(C) 72%
(D) 28%
(E) 64%
2
Example 4
Over the past 4-year period the price of sugar reflected the following consecutive
changes: 25% increase the 1st year, 25% increase the 2nd year, 20% decrease the
3rd year, and 10% decrease the 4th year. What is the ratio of the price of sugar
today to that of 4 years ago?
9
(A) 8
10
(B) 9
2
(C) 1
3
(D) 2
1
(E) 1
Example 5
Alex bought a pair of roller blades for $100 and sold them to Bob for a 10%
profit. Bob then sold the roller blades back to Alex for 10% loss. Alex then
sold the roller blades to Cathy for $100. What percent profit did Alex earn on
the original $100?
(A) 11%
(B) 20%
(C) 10%
(D) 15%
(E) 80%
Example 6
Brianna is using part of the money she earned on her weekend job to buy several
equally-priced CDs. She used one fifth of her money to buy one third of the
CDs. What fraction of her money will she have left after she buys all the CDs?
1
(A) 5
1
(B) 3
2
(C) 5
2
(D) 3
4
(E) 5
3
Example 7
Last year Mr. John received an inheritance of $57,500. He paid 20% in federal
taxes on the inheritance, and paid 10% of what he had left in state taxes. How
many dollars on the inheritance were left for him?
(A) 50,000
(B) 52,500
(C) 55,000
(D) 41,400
(E) 41,000
Example 8
Helen compares the price of a new computer at two different stores. Store A
offers 20% off the sticker price followed by a $180 rebate, and store B offers
35% off the same sticker price with no rebate. Helen saves $30 by buying from
store B. What is the sticker price of the computer in dollars?
(A) 1150
(B) 900
(C) 1000
(D) 1050
(E) 1500
Example 9
In a certain year, the price of gasoline rose by 20% during January, fell by
20% during February, rose by 25% during March, and fell by x% during April.
The price of gasoline at the end of April was the same as it had been at the
beginning of January. To the nearest integer, what is x?
(A) 12
(B) 17
(C) 20
(D) 25
(E) 35
4
Example 10
Anna enjoys dinner at a restaurant in Washington, D.C., where the sales tax
on meals is 10%. She leaves a 15% tip on the price of her meal before the sales
tax is added, and the tax is calculated on the pre-tip amount. She spends a
total of $27.50 for dinner. What is the cost of her dinner without tax or tip?
(A) $18
(B) $20
(C) $21
(D) $22
(E) $24
5
Scores and Points
Example 11
On a certain math exam, 10% of the students got 70 points, 25% got 80 points,
20% got 85 points, 15% got 90 points, and the rest got 95 points. What is the
difference between the mean and the median score on this exam?
(A) 0
(B) 1
(C) 2
(D) 4
(E) 5
Example 12
On an algebra quiz, 10% of the students scored 70 points, 35% scored 80 points,
30% scored 90 points, and the rest scored 100 points. What is the difference
between the mean and the median of the students’ scores on this quiz?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 5
Example 13
A teacher gave a test to a class in which 10% of the students are juniors and
90% are seniors. The average score on the test was 84. The juniors all received
the same score, and the average score of the seniors was 83. What score did
each of the juniors receive on the test?
(A) 85
(B) 88
(C) 93
(D) 94
(E) 98
6
Example 14
At Jefferson Summer Camp, 60% of the children play soccer, 30% of the children
swim, and 40% of the soccer players swim. To the nearest whole percent, what
percent of the non-swimmers play soccer?
(A) 30%
(B) 40%
(C) 49%
(D) 51%
(E) 70%
Example 15
At the beginning of the school year, 50% of all students in Mr. Wells’ math
class answered ”Yes” to the question ”Do you love math?” and 50% answered
”No.” At the end of the school year, 70% answered ”Yes” and 30% answered
”No.” Altogether, x% of the students gave a different answer at the beginning
and end of the school year. What is the difference between the maximum and
the minimum possible values of x?
(A) 0
(B) 20
(C) 40
(D) 60
(E) 80
Example 16
In a recent basketball game, Shenille attempted only three-point shots and two-
point shots. She was successful on 20% of her three-point shots and 30% of her
two-point shots. Shenille attempted 30 shots. How many points did she score?
(A) 12
(B) 18
(C) 24
(D) 30
(E) 36
7
Example 17
A bag initially contains red marbles and blue marbles only, with more blue than
red. Red marbles are added to the bag until only 13 of the marbles in the bag
are blue. Then yellow marbles are added to the bag until only 15 of the marbles
in the bag are blue. Finally, the number of blue marbles in the bag is doubled.
What fraction of the marbles now in the bag are blue?
1
(A) 5
1
(B) 4
1
(C) 3
2
(D) 5
1
(E) 2
Example 18
A flower bouquet contains pink roses, red roses, pink carnations, and red car-
nations. One third of the pink flowers are roses, three fourths of the red flowers
are carnations, and six tenths of the flowers are pink. What percent of the
flowers are carnations?
(A) 15%
(B) 30%
(C) 40%
(D) 60%
(E) 70%
Example 19
A company sells peanut butter in cylindrical jars. Marketing research suggests
that using shorter jars will increase sales. Suppose that the height of the jars
is decreased by 36% without altering the volume. By what percent must the
radius be increased?
(A) 25%
(B) 30%
(C) 20%
(D) 50%
(E) 22%
8
Example 20
A carton contains milk that is 4% fat, an amount that is 45% less fat than the
amount contained in a carton of whole milk. What is the percentage of fat in
whole milk?
10
(A) 3
44
(B) 5
80
(C) 11
8
(D) 3
60
(E) 7
Example 21
If a is 50% larger than c, and b is 20% larger than c, then a is what percent
larger than b?
(A) 50%
(B) 25%
(C) 20%
(D) 120%
(E) 150%
9
PROBLEMS
Problem 1
The price of a skateboard is reduced 30% for the spring sale. It is then marked
up 30%. What fraction represents the new price compared to the original?
3
(A) 100
9
(B) 10
81
(C) 100
91
(D) 100
60
(E) 100
Problem 2
Successive discounts of 20% and 20% are equivalent to a single discount of:
(A) 40%
(B) 20%
(C) 30%
(D) 36%
(E) 38%
Problem 3
Successive discounts of 30%, 50%, and 20% would be equivalent to a single
discount of t%. What is the value of t?
(A) 28%
(B) 30%
(C) 40%
(D) 100%
(E) 72%
10
Problem 4
Over the past 3-year period the price of sugar reflected the following consecutive
changes: 25% increase the 1st year, 10% increase the 2nd year, and 50% decrease
the 3rd year. What is the ratio of the price of sugar today to that of 3 years
ago?
11
(A) 16
10
(B) 9
2
(C) 1
3
(D) 2
17
(E) 20
Problem 5
Mr. Alex owns a home worth $100,000. He sells it to Mr. Bob at a 10% profit
based on the worth of the house. Mr. Bob sells the house back to Mr. Alex at
a 10% loss. Then:
(A) Alex comes out even
(B) Alex makes $11000 on the deal
(C) Alex makes $10000 on the deal
(D) Alex loses $9000 on the deal
(E) Alex loses $10000 on the deal
Problem 6
One ticket to a show costs $40 at full price. Smith buys 6 tickets using a coupon
that gives her a 25% discount. Tom buys 7 tickets using a coupon that gives
her a 30% discount. How many more dollars does Tom pay than Smith?
(A) 12
(B) 15
(C) 16
(D) 20
(E) 25
11
Problem 7
The state income tax where Kristin lives is levied at the rate of p% of the first
$28,000 of annual income plus (p + 2)% of any amount above $28,000. Kristin
noticed that the state income tax she paid amounted to (p + 0.25)% of her
annual income. What was her annual income?
(A) $28,000
(B) $32,000
(C) $35,000
(D) $42,000
(E) $56,000
Problem 8
Three generations of the Wen family are going to the movies, two from each
generation. The two members of the youngest generation receive a 50% discount
as children. The two members of the oldest generation receive a 25% discount as
senior citizens. The two members of the middle generation receive no discount.
Grandfather Wen, whose senior ticket costs $6.00, is paying for everyone. How
many dollars must he pay?
(A) 34
(B) 36
(C) 42
(D) 46
(E) 48
Problem 9
A customer who intends to purchase an appliance has three coupons, only one
of which may be used:
• Coupon 1: 15% off the listed price if the listed price is at least $100
• Coupon 2: $30 off the listed price if the listed price is at least $200
• Coupon 3: 20% off the amount by which the listed price exceeds $200
For which of the following listed prices will coupon 1 not offer a greater price
reduction than either coupon 2 or coupon 3?
(A) $279.95
(B) $399.95
(C) $800.99
(D) $739.95
(E) $659.95
12
Problem 10
At the beginning of the school year, Liya’s goal was to earn an A on at least
85% of her 60 quizzes for the year. She earned an A on 35 of the first 40 quizzes.
If she is to achieve her goal, on at most how many of the remaining quizzes can
she earn a grade lower than an A?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 5
Problem 11
A poll shows that 80% of all voters approve of the mayor’s work. On four
separate occasions a pollster selects a voter at random. What is the probability
that on exactly two of these four occasions the voter approves of the mayor’s
work?
(A) 0.1063
(B) 0.1536
(C) 0.2133
(D) 0.3333
(E) 0.4411
Problem 12
At Gauss High School, the number of students taking the AMC10 was 80 in
2010, 88 in 2011, 92 in 2012, 98 in 2013, and 100 in 2014, and is 108 in 2015.
Between what two consecutive years was there the largest percentage increase?
(A) 2010 and 2011
(B) 2011 and 2012
(C) 2012 and 2013
(D) 2013 and 2014
(E) 2014 and 2015
13
Problem 13
Each day, Megan ate 30% of the jellybeans that were in her jar at the beginning
of that day. At the end of the second day, 147 remained. How many jellybeans
were in the jar originally?
(A) 400
(B) 300
(C) 200
(D) 160
(E) 150
Problem 14
A bag initially contains red marbles and blue marbles only, with more blue
33 1
than red. Red marbles are added to the bag until only %3 of the marbles in
the bag are blue. Then yellow marbles are added to the bag until only 20% of
the marbles in the bag are blue. If the number of red marbles is at least 10,
how many marbles are yellow?
(A) 10
(B) 15
(C) 20
(D) 22
(E) 33
Problem 15
Some boys and girls are having a car wash to raise money for a class trip to
China. Initially 35% of the group are girls. Shortly thereafter three girls leave
and eight boys arrive, and then 16 23 % of the group are girls. How many girls
were initially in the group?
(A) 4
(B) 6
(C) 7
(D) 10
(E) 12
14
Problem 16
In a collection of yellow, black, and purple marbles, there are 60% more yellow
marbles than black marbles, and there are 37.5% more purple marbles than
yellow marbles. Suppose that there are y yellow marbles. What is the total
number of marbles in the collection?
(A) 3.975y
(B) 3y
(C) 3.475y
(D) 3.385y
(E) 4.625y
Problem 17
On Monday, Millie puts a quart of seeds, 25% of which are millet, into a bird
feeder. On each successive day she adds another quart of the same mix of seeds
without removing any seeds that are left. Each day the birds eat only 25% of
the millet in the feeder, but they eat all of the other seeds. On which day, just
after Millie has placed the seeds, will the birds find that more than half the
seeds in the feeder are millet?
(A) Tuesday
(B) Wednesday
(C) Thursday
(D) Friday
(E) Saturday
Problem 18
Last summer 40% of the birds living on Town Lake were swans, 10% were geese,
17% were ducks, and 33% were herons. What percent of the birds that were
not swans were herons?
(A) 25
(B) 35
(C) 55
(D) 60
(E) 10
15
Problem 19
A solid box is 25 cm by 20 cm by 8 cm. A new solid is formed by removing a
cube 5 cm on a side from each corner of this box. What percent of the original
volume is removed?
(A) 45
(B) 19
(C) 22
(D) 25
(E) 24
Problem 20
A gallon of paint is used to paint a room. 33 13 % of the paint is used on the first
day. On the second day, 33 13 % of the remaining paint is used. What fraction of
the original amount of paint is available to use on the third day?
1
(A) 10
1
(B) 9
1
(C) 3
4
(D) 9
5
(E) 9
Problem 21
Twenty percent less than 60 is one-third more than what number?
(A) 16
(B) 30
(C) 32
(D) 36
(E) 48
Problem 22
M
If M is 30% of Q, Q is 30% of P , and N is 15% of P , then N =
3
(A) 4
1
(B) 3
1
(C) 2
3
(D) 5
9
(E) 40
16
