GMAT Math : Calculating percents

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Percents

330 is what percent of 11?

Possible Answers:

$\dpi{100} \small 3000\%$

$\dpi{100} \small 300\%$

$\dpi{100} \small 30\%$

$\dpi{100} \small 3\%$

$\dpi{100} \small 33\%$

Correct answer:

$\dpi{100} \small 3000\%$

Explanation:

This problem can be solved by the equation: $330 = 11x$ , where $\dpi{100} \small x$ is the answer in terms of a percentage. To solve for $\dpi{100} \small x$ both sides are divided by $\dpi{100} \small 11$ : $\frac{330 }{11}= x$ . This can be simplified to: $30 = x$ . Now $\dpi{100} \small 30$ is converted to a percentage to find the answer.

$\dpi{100} \small 30$ as a percentage is $\dpi{100} \small 3000\%$

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Example Question #2 : Percents

Three years ago, Anum invested $25,000 in a new mutual fund account. The value of the account increased by 15% during the first year, increased by 7% during the second year, and decreased by 15% during the third year. What is the approximate value of the account today?

Possible Answers:

$\dpi{100} \small \$ 26,000$

$\dpi{100} \small \$ 31,000$

$\dpi{100} \small \$ 35,000$

$\dpi{100} \small \$ 25,000$

$\dpi{100} \small \$ 27,000$

Correct answer:

$\dpi{100} \small \$ 26,000$

Explanation:

The first year increase of 15% can be represented as 1.15; the second year increase of 7% can be represented as 1.07; and the third year decrease of 15% can be represented as 0.85.

Multiply the original investment by each annual change.

25,000(1.15)(1.07)(0.85) = 26,148

approx. $26,000

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Example Question #3 : Percents

Max the cat has 70 toy mice. If 30% of the mice are new, how many mice are not new?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

If 30% of the mice are new, then 70% are not new.

$\dpi{100} \small 0.7\times 70=49$

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Example Question #1 : Percents

37% of the greatest common factor of 50 and 350 is

Possible Answers:

18.5

1.85

9.25

129.5

Correct answer:

18.5

Explanation:

The greatest common factor of 50 and 350 is simply 50. Now we must take 37% of 50.

$.37\cdot 50=18.5$ .

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Example Question #2 : Percents

A shirt costs $60. The price was then increased by 30%. What is the new price as expressed in terms of the original price?

Possible Answers:

$60(1 +\frac{3}{10})$

100-60(.3)

$60(\frac{3}{10})$

$100\times 60(.3)$

60(.3)

Correct answer:

$60(1 +\frac{3}{10})$

Explanation:

$Increase=Original\cdot \left ( 1+\%\ change\ in\ price \right )$

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Example Question #3 : Percents

A GMAT score increases from 450 to 540. By what percent did the score increase?

Possible Answers:

$53\%$

$20\%$

$90\%$

$17\%$

Correct answer:

$20\%$

Explanation:

$\frac{change}{original} = \frac{90}{450} = \frac{1}{5}= \frac{20}{100}$

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Example Question #1 : Percents

Out of 60 students, 15 prefer to study at night. What percent of students prefer nighttime studying?

Possible Answers:

60%

25%

15%

Correct answer:

25%

Explanation:

$\frac{15}{60}=\frac{x}{100}$

Cross multiply

1500=60x

Divide both sides by 60

25=x

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Example Question #4 : Percents

Geri earns a commission of 22.5% on everything she sells for KM Cosmetics. As of the fifteenth of the month, she has sold $2,100 worth of cosmetics. How much more in cosmetics must she sell in order to earn at least $900 commission for the month?

Possible Answers:

$\$1,900$

$\$4,000$

$\$2,100$

$\$1,300$

She has already sold enough to earn $900 commission.

Correct answer:

$\$1,900$

Explanation:

Commission can be calculated by muliplying the commission rate - 22.5%, or 0.225 - by the amount of sales, so the amount of sales needed can be found by dividing the desired commission by 0.225.

$\$900 \div 0.225 = \$4,000$

Since Geri has already sold $2,100 worth of cosmetics, she needs to sell $\$4,000 - 2,100 = \$1,900$ more.

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Example Question #4 : Percents

A number is multiplied by six; then its decimal point is moved to the left three spaces. This is the same as taking what percent of the number?

Possible Answers:

$\frac{3}{100}$ %

$\frac{3}{5}$ %

$\frac{3}{50}$ %

Correct answer:

$\frac{3}{5}$ %

Explanation:

Let's do these two things to 100. Multiplying 100 by 6 yields 600; moving the decimal point three places left changes 600, or 600.0, to 0.60.

This means that the new number is 0.60% , or $\frac{3}{5}$ %, of the original number.

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Example Question #6 : Percents

A number is divided by two; then its decimal point is moved to the left two spaces. This is the same as taking what percent of the number?

Possible Answers:

$\frac{1}{2}$ %

$\frac{1}{20}$ %

$\frac{1}{5}$ %

$\frac{1}{200}$ %

$\frac{1}{50}$ %

Correct answer:

$\frac{1}{2}$ %

Explanation:

Let's do these two things to 100. Dividing 100 by 2 yields 50; moving the decimal point two places left changes 50, or 50.0, to 0.50.

This means that the new number is 0.50% , or $\frac{1}{2}$ %, of the original number.

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GMAT Math : Calculating percents

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

All GMAT Math Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Percents

Example Question #2 : Percents

Example Question #3 : Percents

Example Question #1 : Percents

Example Question #2 : Percents

Example Question #3 : Percents

Example Question #1 : Percents

Example Question #4 : Percents

Example Question #4 : Percents

Example Question #6 : Percents

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