ACT Math : Fractions and Percentage

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Percentage

A politician promises to spend a minimum of  of his budget on improving roads. What is the minimum percent of the budget that must be spent on roads to keep this promise?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find a percentage from a fraction, multiply the numerator by , then solve the fraction.

Thus, the politician must spend at least  of the budget on roads.

Example Question #12 : Percentage

Convert to a percentage: 

Round to the nearest integer.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We can solve this problem either by adding the two fractions and then converting to a percentage, or by converting each fraction to a percentage before adding them. We'll use the first method in this case:

Now, just as before, multiply our numerator by  and solve the fraction:

 

Example Question #11 : Percentage

The girl's tennis team decided to do multiple fundraisers to raise enough to buy new equipment for next season. The following is a table of 4 of the fundraisers they did and the fraction of the total funds each raised.

Fundraiser

The last fundraiser they did earned them the final  they needed. What percent of the total funds raised did the last fundraiser raise?

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 

The question asks to find what percent the last fundraiser makes up of the total funds raised. The information that's given is how much that last fundraiser made and what fraction the other fundraisers made. 

This problem may be solved without the amount of money the last fundraiser raised. The reason is that we know that only 5 fundraisers were done. We're given what the fraction of the other fundraisers were. 

If we were to add all the fractions together, including the last fundraiser, the sum of all would equal 1. 

Fractions are another version of decimals but also another version of percentages. Percentages are essentially a prettier way of showing parts (or fractions) of a whole, which would be 100%. In the case of fractions, this is the same logic, which is why when all the fractions are summed, they equal 1. This 1 represents 100%. 
Upon using lowest common denominators, adding the fractions together, and solving for x, x is calculated to be 

We've almost obtained the final answer. Now it's just a matter of converting this fraction into a percent. As mentioned previously, fractions are another version of decimals. Think of decimals as being the middle conversion between fractions and percents. All that needs to be done to a decimal to turn it in to a percent is to multiply it by 100. For instance, .50 becomes 50%. Conversely, .50 is the same as  in fraction form. Therefore, one half is 50%. 
In order to solve for x in percent, the same conversion must be done. 

Example Question #12 : Percentage

Convert the following to a percentage.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To convert a fraction into a percentage, simply simplify the fraction into a decimal and multiply by 100.

Example Question #12 : Percentage

If a dress in a store originally costs , what does it cost (in dollars) after a  discount is applied?

Possible Answers:

$63

$45

$70

$52

$28

Correct answer:

$52

Explanation:

To find  of 80, . Next, subtract , for  as the final answer.

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