SAT Math : Percentage

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #31 : Percentage

Three salesmen, Gor, Levon, and Raffi, competed to sell the highest number of cars in the month of August. A total of 250 cars were sold. 

Gor sold 100 cars. Levon sold 62% of the remaining cars, and Raffi sold the rest. 

How many cars did Raffi sell? 

Possible Answers:

75

39

57

77

93

Correct answer:

57

Explanation:

We first subtract the 100 cars that Gor sold from the total of 250 sold. We are left with 150 cars, and we know that Levon sold 62% of them. 100% – 62% = 38%. Hence, Raffi sold 38% of 150 cars. 150 * 0.38 = 57

Example Question #32 : Percentage

 

 

 

 

A school is made up of 400 students. Each student must belong to one of the four clubs shown in the chart below. How many students are in chorus?

Sat_math_166_01 

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

You must first determine the percentage of the students in chorus. To do this, subtract the other percentages from 100: 100 – (35 + 29 + 24) = 12.

Therefore, 12% of the 400 students at this school attend chorus.

To determine the number of students in the chorus, multiply .12 (12%) by 400.

0.12(400) = 48

Example Question #10 : How To Find The Part From The Whole With Percentage

What is 16% of 32?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

There are two ways to solve this problem. 

First, we can convert the given percentage to a decimal and multiple by the whole. 

16% = 0.16

Secondly, we could set up a proportion. We are given the whole from which a percentage is taken, so we can say:

To solve, cross multiply and simplify.

Example Question #33 : Percentage

An artist's new album sold  copies on its release date. If the U.S. makes up  of these sales, how many copies were sold on that day in the U.S.?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Let's set up a proportion to solve this problem, where  represents the number of copies sold in the U.S. Remember that we can express  as a fraction.

Now, we can solve for the unknown by cross-multiplying. 

Example Question #11 : Whole And Part

Jane called one thousand times to tell you she's sorry. If you saw she was calling and let your phone go to voicemail  of the time, how many voicemails would you have received if she left one each time?

Possible Answers:

None of the given answers

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem, we can set up a proportion. Remember we can express percentages as fractions. Let  represent the number of voicemails. 

Now, we can cross-multiply and solve for the unknown.

Example Question #33 : Percentage

 is what percentage of 

Possible Answers:

Cannot be determined

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this we need to set up a proportion.

Now we cross multiply

Divide by 180.

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:

$225

$200

$250

$40

$175

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 #34 : Percentage

30% of what number is 20?

Solve to the nearest hundredth.

Possible Answers:

1.5

150%

None of the other answers

0.67

66.67

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 #35 : Percentage

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

Possible Answers:

\$ 37.49

\$ 49.70

\$ 30.56

\$ 33.55

None of the available answers

Correct answer:

\$ 37.49

Explanation:

An algebraic expression for this item is:

(1-0.43)x=21.37

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

Example Question #36 : 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:

Correct answer:

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

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