PSAT Math : How to find the whole from the part with percentage

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Whole From The Part With Percentage

Sat_math_131_01

David's trip expenses are pictured in the above pie chart (numbers = % of his total expenses). If he spent $75 on taxis, how much did he spend on hotel and souvenirs combined?

Possible Answers:

$200

$175

$225

$40

$250

Correct answer:

$200

Explanation:

David spent $75 on taxis, which were 15% of his total expenses on the trip. He therefore spent 75(100/15) = $500 on the trip altogether. The hotel and souvenirs make up 35% + 5% = 40% of his total expenses. 40% of 500 is $200.

Example Question #1 : Whole And Part

30% of what number is 20?

Solve to the nearest hundredth.

Possible Answers:

150%

66.67

1.5

0.67

None of the other answers

Correct answer:

66.67

Explanation:

This is a very basic form percentage question. This can be rewritten:

0.3 * x = 20

(Remember, the word "of" in a word problem indicates multiplication, while the word "is" indicates an equals sign).

Solve for x: x = 20 / 0.3 = 66.67

Example Question #472 : Arithmetic

A toy is on sale for 43% off. Its sale price is $21.37. What is the full price?

Possible Answers:

None of the available answers

\$ 49.70\(\displaystyle \$ 49.70\)

\$ 37.49\(\displaystyle \$ 37.49\)

\$ 30.56\(\displaystyle \$ 30.56\)

\$ 33.55\(\displaystyle \$ 33.55\)

Correct answer:

\$ 37.49\(\displaystyle \$ 37.49\)

Explanation:

An algebraic expression for this item is:

(1-0.43)x=21.37\(\displaystyle (1-0.43)x=21.37\)

x=\frac{21.37}{1-0.43}=\$ 37.49\(\displaystyle x=\frac{21.37}{1-0.43}=\$ 37.49\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Whole From The Part With Percentage

Twenty-six students planned to contribute an equal amount to purchase a gift for their teacher. After 18 students had paid, they had collected $76.50. What is the total price of the gift?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \$92.25\)

\(\displaystyle \$76.50\)

\(\displaystyle \$110.50\)

\(\displaystyle \$85.00\)

\(\displaystyle \$108.00\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \$110.50\)

Explanation:

If $76.50 had been collected after 18 students had paid, we can determine how much each student contributed:    

$76.50/18 = $4.25 per student

Now we can multiply this by the total number of students (26) to get the full price of the gift:

26 x $4.25 = $110.50

Example Question #41 : Percentage

If \(\displaystyle x\%\) of \(\displaystyle 20\) is \(\displaystyle 50\), then what is \(\displaystyle 20\%\) of \(\displaystyle x\)?

Possible Answers:

200

100

10

50

20

Correct answer:

50

Explanation:

The first part of the problem tells us that x% of 20 is 50. We can model x% as x/100 or 0.01x. To find x% of 20, we can multiply 0.01x and 20. In other words, we can write the following equation:

(0.01x)(20) = 50

Divide both sides by 20.

0.01x = 2.5

Divide both sides by 0.01.

x = 250.

The question then asks us to find 20% of x. We can represent 20% as 0.2, and we know that x is 250. Therefore,

20% of 250 = 0.2(250) = 50.

The answer is 50.

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Whole From The Part With Percentage

If \(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}\) of a number is \(\displaystyle 18\), what is \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{9}\) of the number?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3\)

\(\displaystyle 4\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 6\)

\(\displaystyle 5\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 3\)

Explanation:

Let x be the number in question.

Then 2/3 * x = 18.

x = 18 * 3/2 = 27

Now find 1/9 of 27:

1/9 * 27 = 3

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Whole From The Part With Percentage

A salesperson for a car dealership earns 16% commission on all sales. She has sold one vehicle this week, a $82,000 SUV on Tuesday, and today is Saturday. She would like to earn a total of $10,000 in commissions by week's end. At the very least, how much in sales must she accomplish today to meet her goal?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \$12,700\)

\(\displaystyle \$42,700\)

\(\displaystyle \$32,700\)

\(\displaystyle \$22,700\)

She has already met her goal.

Correct answer:

She has already met her goal.

Explanation:

The salesperson has already earned a commission of 16% of $82,000, which is equal to

\(\displaystyle \$ 82,000 \times 0.16 = \$13,120\).

This exceeds her goal for the week of $10,000, so she has already reached her goal.

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