SOLVING BASIC WORD PROBLEMS INVOLVING PERCENTS
Ö Recall the basic percent equation: (Percent) µ (Base) = (Amount), where the percent is rewritten in
its equivalent decimal form
Ö Remember that the word “of” translates to multiplication and the word “is” translates to the equal
sign. Also, the base usually follows the word “of.”
Model Problems:
1.
What is 20% of 50?
Percent = 20% = 0.2
Base = 50
Amount = unknown
PµB=A
0.2(50) = 10
Answer:
3.
10
15% of what number is 30?
Percent = 15% = 0.15
Base = unknown
Amount = 30
PµB=A
0.15 µ B = 30
30
3000
B=
=
= 200
0.15
15
Answer:
2.
4.
27 is what percent of 60?
Percent = unknown
Base = 60
Amount = 27
PµB=A
P µ 60 = 27
27
P=
= 0.45 = 45%
60
Answer:
45%
A theater increased its 50,000 seat
capacity by 22%. How many seats
were added to the theatre?
P = 22% = 0.22
A = unknown
B = 50,000
PµB=A
0.22 µ 50000 = 11000
Answer:
11,000
200
Practice Exercises:
1. 12 is what percent of 50?
2. What percent of 50 is 125?
3. Find 18% of 40.
4. What is 25% of 60?
5. 12% of what is 48?
6. 45% of what is 9?
7. What is 60% of 5?
8. What percent of 8 is 6?
9. A student answered 70 of the 80 questions on a test correctly. What percent of the questions were
answered correctly?
10. If 68% of students in a class of 300 passed a test, how many students passed this test?
Answers:
1. 24%
2. 250%
3. 7.2
4. 15
7. 3
8. 75%
9. 87.5%
10. 204 students
5. 400
6. 20