ACCUPLACER Arithmetic Quiz: Percent Word Problems
20 questions · exam conditions
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Percent Word ProblemsQuestion 1 of 20

A real estate agent earns a 3% commission on the selling price of a house. If the agent earned a commission of $8,850, what was the selling price of the house?

$265,500
$275,000
$285,500
$295,000
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ACCUPLACER Arithmetic Quiz

ACCUPLACER Arithmetic Quiz: Percent Word Problems

Practice Percent Word Problems in ACCUPLACER Arithmetic with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Percent Word Problems, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for ACCUPLACER Arithmetic.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

A real estate agent earns a 3% commission on the selling price of a house. If the agent earned a commission of $8,850, what was the selling price of the house?

  1. $265,500
  2. $275,000
  3. $285,500
  4. $295,000 (correct answer)
Explanation: The commission is 3% of the selling price. Let S be the selling price. The equation is (0.03 \times S = 8,850\). To find the selling price, divide the commission by the commission rate (as a decimal): \(S = 8,850 \div 0.03 = $295,000).

Question 2

A restaurant bill is $84 before tax. A 7% sales tax is added to the bill. If a customer decides to leave a 20% tip based on the pre-tax amount, what is the total amount they will pay?

  1. $89.88
  2. $100.80
  3. $106.68 (correct answer)
  4. $107.86
Explanation: First, calculate the sales tax: 7% of $84 is (0.07 \times 84=84 = 5.88). Next, calculate the tip on the pre-tax amount: 20% of $84 is (0.20 \times 84=84 = 16.80). The total amount paid is the original bill plus the tax plus the tip: (84+84 + 5.88 + 16.80=16.80 = 106.68).

Question 3

A rental car company charges a daily rate plus a 15% tax and fee surcharge. If the total charge for a one-day rental was $63.25, what was the company's daily rate before the surcharge?

  1. $53.76
  2. $55.00 (correct answer)
  3. $57.75
  4. $72.74
Explanation: The total charge of $63.25 represents 100% of the daily rate plus a 15% surcharge, which is 115% of the daily rate. Let R be the daily rate. Then (1.15 \times R = 63.25\). To find the rate, divide the total charge by 1.15: \(R = 63.25 \div 1.15 = $55.00).

Question 4

After a 15% discount, the price of a coat is $153. What was the original price of the coat?

  1. $130.05
  2. $175.95
  3. $180.00 (correct answer)
  4. $198.00
Explanation: The discounted price represents 100% - 15% = 85% of the original price. Let P be the original price. Then (0.85 \times P = 153\). To find the original price, divide the discounted price by 0.85: \(P = 153 \div 0.85 = $180.00).

Question 5

A stock valued at $80.00 increases in price by 20% on Monday. On Tuesday, its new price decreases by 20%. What is the final value of the stock on Tuesday?

  1. $76.80 (correct answer)
  2. $80.00
  3. $83.20
  4. $96.00
Explanation: First, calculate the price after the 20% increase: (80.00×1.20=80.00 \times 1.20 = 96.00). Next, calculate the price after the 20% decrease from the new price: (96.00×0.80=96.00 \times 0.80 = 76.80). The final value is $76.80. A common mistake is to assume the percentages cancel each other out.

Question 6

A customer paid a total of $53.50 for a sweater. This price included a 20% discount off the original price and then a 7% sales tax on the discounted price. What was the original price of the sweater?

  1. $60.00
  2. $61.49
  3. $62.50 (correct answer)
  4. $65.00
Explanation: Let P be the original price. The discounted price is P×(1−0.20)=0.8PP \times (1 - 0.20) = 0.8P. The final price after tax is (0.8P)×(1+0.07)=(0.8P)×1.07=0.856P(0.8P) \times (1 + 0.07) = (0.8P) \times 1.07 = 0.856P. We are given that the final price is $53.50. So, (0.856P = 53.50\). To find P, divide by 0.856: \(P = 53.50 \div 0.856 = $62.50).

Question 7

A store offers two promotion options on a $100 appliance. Option A is a single 35% discount. Option B is a 25% discount, followed by an additional 10% discount on the reduced price. How much more money does a customer save by choosing the better option?

  1. $0
  2. $2.50 (correct answer)
  3. $5.00
  4. $7.50
Explanation: Option A savings: (0.35 \times 100=100 = 35.00). For Option B, the first discount is (0.25 \times 100=100 = 25.00), making the price $75.00. The second discount is (0.10 \times 75.00=75.00 = 7.50). Total savings for Option B is (25.00+25.00 + 7.50 = 32.50\). Option A is the better option. The difference in savings is \(35.00 - 32.50=32.50 = 2.50).

Question 8

An electronics store sold a camera for $420, making a 20% profit on the cost. What was the store's cost for the camera?

  1. $336
  2. $350 (correct answer)
  3. $390
  4. $504
Explanation: The selling price (420)isthestore′scost(C)plustheprofit(20420) is the store's cost (C) plus the profit (20% of C). So, \(420 = C + 0.20C), which simplifies to (420 = 1.20C\). To find the cost, divide the selling price by 1.20: \(C = 420 \div 1.20 = $350).

Question 9

A library has 1,500 books. 40% of the books are fiction. Of the non-fiction books, 25% are biographies. How many biographies does the library have?

  1. 225 (correct answer)
  2. 375
  3. 600
  4. 900
Explanation: First, find the number of fiction books: 0.40×1,500=6000.40 \times 1,500 = 600. The number of non-fiction books is the total minus the fiction books: 1,500−600=9001,500 - 600 = 900. Next, find the number of biographies by taking 25% of the non-fiction books: 0.25×900=2250.25 \times 900 = 225. The library has 225 biographies.

Question 10

The number of employees at a company increased from 160 to 184. What was the percent increase in the number of employees?

  1. 12%
  2. 13%
  3. 15% (correct answer)
  4. 24%
Explanation: To find the percent increase, first find the amount of the increase: 184−160=24184 - 160 = 24. Then, divide the amount of increase by the original number: 24÷160=0.1524 \div 160 = 0.15. Finally, convert the decimal to a percentage: 0.15=150.15 = 15%.

Question 11

A membership at a gym costs $50 per month. If a member pays for an entire year in advance, they receive a 15% discount on the total cost. How much does it cost to pay for a year in advance?

  1. $75.00
  2. $510.00 (correct answer)
  3. $585.00
  4. $600.00
Explanation: First, calculate the total cost for a year without a discount: (50×12=50 \times 12 = 600). Next, calculate the discount amount: 15% of $600 is (0.15 \times 600=600 = 90). Finally, subtract the discount from the total yearly cost: (600−600 - 90 = $510).

Question 12

A salesperson earns a monthly salary of $1,200 plus a 5% commission on all sales over $10,000. If the salesperson's total sales for the month were $35,000, what were their total earnings for the month?

  1. $1,250
  2. $1,750
  3. $2,450 (correct answer)
  4. $2,950
Explanation: First, determine the amount of sales eligible for commission: (35,000−35,000 - 10,000 = 25,000\). Next, calculate the commission earned on that amount: 5% of $25,000 is \(0.05 \times 25,000 = 1,250\). Finally, add the base salary to the commission: \(1,200 + 1,250=1,250 = 2,450).

Question 13

Maria's monthly salary is $3,200. She receives a $12%12\% $ raise, but then her health insurance premium increases by $45 per month. After these changes, what percent of her original salary is her new take-home amount?

  1. 110.6% (correct answer)
  2. 112.0%
  3. 113.4%
  4. 114.8%
Explanation: First, calculate Maria's new salary after the 12% raise: $3,200 × 1.12 = $3,584. Then subtract the insurance increase: $3,584 - $45 = 3,539.Finally,findwhatpercentthisisofheroriginalsalary:(3,539. Finally, find what percent this is of her original salary: (3,539 ÷ $3,200) × 100% = 110.6%. Choice B ignores the insurance increase. Choice C incorrectly adds the insurance as a percentage. Choice D compounds the percentage calculations incorrectly.

Question 14

A restaurant bill totals $84.60 before tax. The sales tax rate is $8.25%8.25\% andthecustomerwantstoleaveanand the customer wants to leave an 18%18\% $ tip on the pre-tax amount. What is the total amount the customer will pay?

  1. $106.48
  2. $106.81 (correct answer)
  3. $109.58
  4. $110.12
Explanation: Calculate tax: $84.60 × 0.0825 = $6.98. Calculate tip on pre-tax amount: $84.60 × 0.18 = $15.23. Total: $84.60 + $6.98 + $15.23 = $106.81. Choice A uses wrong tax rate. Choice C calculates tip on the after-tax amount. Choice D adds the percentages before multiplying.

Question 15

A car depreciates 15%15\% in its first year and 12%12\% of its remaining value in its second year. If the car is worth $18,700 after two years, what was its original value?

  1. $23,400
  2. $24,800
  3. $25,000 (correct answer)
  4. $26,200
Explanation: After first year, the car is worth 85% of original value. After second year, it's worth 88% of the first year value, or 0.85 × 0.88 = 0.748 of original value. If 0.748 × original = $18,700, then original = $18,700 ÷ 0.748 = $25,000. Choice A uses simple depreciation instead of compound. Choice B miscalculates the decimal conversion. Choice D adds the depreciation percentages incorrectly.

Question 16

A property tax assessment increases by 8%8\% this year. Additionally, the tax rate increases from 1.2%1.2\% to 1.35%1.35\% of assessed value. If a homeowner's tax bill was $2,400 last year, what will it be this year?

  1. $2,916 (correct answer)
  2. $2,948
  3. $3,024
  4. $3,186
Explanation: Last year's assessed value: $2,400 ÷ 0.012 = $200,000. This year's assessed value: $200,000 × 1.08 = $216,000. This year's tax: $216,000 × 0.0135 = $2,916. Choice B only applies the assessment increase. Choice C only applies the rate increase. Choice D incorrectly adds the percentage increases before calculating.

Question 17

A clothing store has a 30%30\% off sale, but charges 7.5%7.5\% sales tax on the discounted price. A customer has a store credit of $25 and wants to buy a jacket originally priced at $89. How much additional money does the customer need to pay?

  1. $37.18
  2. $41.97 (correct answer)
  3. $45.32
  4. $49.68
Explanation: Sale price: $89 × 0.70 = $62.30. With tax: $62.30 × 1.075 = $66.97. After store credit: $66.97 - $25 = $41.97. Choice A forgets to apply tax. Choice C subtracts the store credit before applying the discount. Choice D applies tax to the original price.

Question 18

A commission-based salesperson earns 3%3\% on the first $10,000 in monthly sales and $5%5\% $ on any sales above that amount. In a month where the salesperson earned $950 in commission, what were their total sales?

  1. $19,000
  2. $21,000
  3. $23,000 (correct answer)
  4. $25,000
Explanation: Commission on first $10,000: $10,000 × 0.03 = $300. Remaining commission: $950 - $300 = $650. Sales above $10,000: $650 ÷ 0.05 = $13,000. Total sales: $10,000 + $13,000 = $23,000. Choice A miscalculates the higher tier amount. Choice B uses wrong commission rate. Choice D forgets the tiered structure.

Question 19

A savings account earned $67.50 in simple interest over one year at an annual interest rate of 3%. What was the principal amount in the account at the beginning of the year?

  1. $202.50
  2. $2,025.00
  3. $2,250.00 (correct answer)
  4. $2,317.50
Explanation: Simple interest (I) is calculated as Principal (P) times rate (r) times time (t). Here, I = 67.50, r = 0.03, and t = 1. The formula is \(I = P \times r \times t\), so \(67.50 = P \times 0.03 \times 1). To find the principal, divide the interest by the rate: (P = 67.50÷0.03=67.50 \div 0.03 = 2,250.00).

Question 20

The price of a gallon of milk increased by 8% this year. If the price last year was $3.50, what is the price this year?

  1. $3.58
  2. $3.75
  3. $3.78 (correct answer)
  4. $4.30
Explanation: First, calculate the amount of the increase: 8% of $3.50 is (0.08 \times 3.50=3.50 = 0.28). Add this increase to the original price to find the new price: (3.50+3.50 + 0.28 = 3.78\). Alternatively, multiply the original price by 108% (or 1.08): \(3.50 \times 1.08 = $3.78).