How do you do percentages word problems depend on your choice of method. Solving Percentages word problems in few seconds is an easiest and interesting task to perform if you know the very basic SAT Math Percent Strategy. You can find percentage involving percentages word problems by assuming a value for the unknown. You can start doing percentages word problems by assuming any number. But we suggest you to always assume 100 for the unknown value. Percent means 1/100, so assumption of 100 will make percentage calculations easier and quicker for you. See following example.
How do you do percentages word problems – Example
In 1990, population of city A and city B was same. From 1990 to 2000, population of city A decreased by 25% while the population of city B increased by 25%. In 2000, the population of city A was what per cent of the population of city B?
How do you do percentages word problems – Solution
Here you do not know the population of either city A or city B. But you know that the population of both cities (A & B) was same in 1990. You have to basically find populations of city A and city B in 2000.
Assume population of city A or city B in 1990 was 100.
25% of population = 100 x 25/100 = 25
Population of city A decreased by 25 % = 100 – 25 = 75
So remaining population of city A in 2000 = 75
Population of city B increased by 25% = 100 + 25 = 125
So remaining population of city B in 2000 = 125
Now read last line of the percent word problem carefully. It is asking for finding percentage of population of city A with respect to population of city B in 2000.
To solve percentage word problem, use following percent formula
So if someone asks you how do you do percentages word problems, your reply should be simple “by assuming unknown as 100”. Practice of solving percentages problems assuming magical figure of 100 will enable you to do percentage problem in few seconds.
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