GMAT Math : Calculating percents

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

Create An Account

All GMAT Math Resources

22 Diagnostic Tests 693 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Calculating Percents

330 is what percent of 11?

Possible Answers:

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

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

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

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

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

Correct answer:

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

Explanation:

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

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

Report an Error

Example Question #1 : Calculating 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:

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

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

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

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

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

Correct answer:

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

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

Report an Error

Example Question #1 : 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.

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

Report an Error

Example Question #3 : Calculating Percents

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

Possible Answers:

9.25 $\displaystyle 9.25$

$\displaystyle 37$

1.85 $\displaystyle 1.85$

18.5 $\displaystyle 18.5$

129.5 $\displaystyle 129.5$

Correct answer:

18.5 $\displaystyle 18.5$

Explanation:

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

$.37\cdot 50=18.5$ $\displaystyle .37\cdot 50=18.5$.

Report an Error

Example Question #1 : 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:

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

60(.3) $\displaystyle 60(.3)$

$\displaystyle 100-60(.3)$

$100\times 60(.3)$ $\displaystyle 100\times 60(.3)$

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

Correct answer:

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

Explanation:

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

Report an Error

Example Question #4 : Calculating Percents

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

Possible Answers:

$53\%$ $\displaystyle 53\%$

$20\%$ $\displaystyle 20\%$

$17\%$ $\displaystyle 17\%$

$90\%$ $\displaystyle 90\%$

Correct answer:

$20\%$ $\displaystyle 20\%$

Explanation:

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

Report an Error

Example Question #5 : Calculating Percents

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

Possible Answers:

15%

60%

25%

Correct answer:

25%

Explanation:

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

Cross multiply

$\displaystyle 1500=60x$

Divide both sides by 60

25=x $\displaystyle 25=x$

Report an Error

Example Question #6 : Calculating 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:

$\$2,100$ $\displaystyle \$2,100$

$\$1,300$ $\displaystyle \$1,300$

$\$4,000$ $\displaystyle \$4,000$

She has already sold enough to earn $900 commission.

$\$1,900$ $\displaystyle \$1,900$

Correct answer:

$\$1,900$ $\displaystyle \$1,900$

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.

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

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

Report an Error

Example Question #7 : Calculating 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:

$\displaystyle 6$ %

$\frac{3}{5}$ $\displaystyle \frac{3}{5}$ %

$\frac{3}{100}$ $\displaystyle \frac{3}{100}$ %

$\displaystyle 3$ %

$\frac{3}{50}$ $\displaystyle \frac{3}{50}$ %

Correct answer:

$\frac{3}{5}$ $\displaystyle \frac{3}{5}$ %

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 $\frac{3}{5}$ $\displaystyle \frac{3}{5}$ %, of the original number.

Report an Error

Example Question #2 : 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:

$\frac{1}{50}$ $\displaystyle \frac{1}{50}$ %

$\frac{1}{2}$ $\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}$ %

$\frac{1}{5}$ $\displaystyle \frac{1}{5}$ %

$\frac{1}{20}$ $\displaystyle \frac{1}{20}$ %

$\frac{1}{200}$ $\displaystyle \frac{1}{200}$ %

Correct answer:

$\frac{1}{2}$ $\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}$ %

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 $\frac{1}{2}$ $\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}$ %, of the original number.

Report an Error

All GMAT Math Resources

22 Diagnostic Tests 693 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Popular Subjects

ACT Tutors in Washington DC, Math Tutors in Seattle, ISEE Tutors in Los Angeles, Math Tutors in New York City, MCAT Tutors in Los Angeles, LSAT Tutors in Houston, Computer Science Tutors in Atlanta, Statistics Tutors in Philadelphia, Computer Science Tutors in Los Angeles, ISEE Tutors in Denver

Popular Courses & Classes

LSAT Courses & Classes in Washington DC, GRE Courses & Classes in Denver, ISEE Courses & Classes in Boston, SAT Courses & Classes in Washington DC, GMAT Courses & Classes in Seattle, ISEE Courses & Classes in Philadelphia, LSAT Courses & Classes in Seattle, SAT Courses & Classes in Denver, ISEE Courses & Classes in Chicago, SSAT Courses & Classes in Atlanta

Popular Test Prep

MCAT Test Prep in Chicago, ISEE Test Prep in Chicago, SAT Test Prep in San Francisco-Bay Area, SAT Test Prep in Seattle, SAT Test Prep in New York City, SSAT Test Prep in Phoenix, SAT Test Prep in Boston, GRE Test Prep in Denver, GRE Test Prep in Philadelphia, MCAT Test Prep in Denver

DMCA Complaint

If you believe that content available by means of the Website (as defined in our Terms of Service) infringes one or more of your copyrights, please notify us by providing a written notice (“Infringement Notice”) containing the information described below to the designated agent listed below. If Varsity Tutors takes action in response to an Infringement Notice, it will make a good faith attempt to contact the party that made such content available by means of the most recent email address, if any, provided by such party to Varsity Tutors.

Your Infringement Notice may be forwarded to the party that made the content available or to third parties such as ChillingEffects.org.

Please be advised that you will be liable for damages (including costs and attorneys’ fees) if you materially misrepresent that a product or activity is infringing your copyrights. Thus, if you are not sure content located on or linked-to by the Website infringes your copyright, you should consider first contacting an attorney.

Please follow these steps to file a notice:

You must include the following:

A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf; An identification of the copyright claimed to have been infringed; A description of the nature and exact location of the content that you claim to infringe your copyright, in \ sufficient detail to permit Varsity Tutors to find and positively identify that content; for example we require a link to the specific question (not just the name of the question) that contains the content and a description of which specific portion of the question – an image, a link, the text, etc – your complaint refers to; Your name, address, telephone number and email address; and A statement by you: (a) that you believe in good faith that the use of the content that you claim to infringe your copyright is not authorized by law, or by the copyright owner or such owner’s agent; (b) that all of the information contained in your Infringement Notice is accurate, and (c) under penalty of perjury, that you are either the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf.

Send your complaint to our designated agent at:

Charles Cohn Varsity Tutors LLC
101 S. Hanley Rd, Suite 300
St. Louis, MO 63105

Or fill out the form below:

Do not fill in this field

Contact Information

* Full legal name

Company name

* Phone number

* Email address

Address

* Address1

Address2

* City

* State

* Zipcode

* Country

Complaint Details

* URL of copyrighted work (where your original material is located)

* Please describe the copyrighted work so that it may be easily identified

I am the owner, or an agent authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

I have a good faith belief that the use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.

This notification is accurate.

I acknowledge that there may be adverse legal consequences for making false or bad faith allegations of copyright infringement by using this process.

* Signature (your digital signature is legally binding)

Email address:
Your name:
Feedback:

GMAT Math : Calculating percents

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

All GMAT Math Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Calculating Percents

Example Question #1 : Calculating Percents

Example Question #1 : Percents

Example Question #3 : Calculating Percents

Example Question #1 : Percents

Example Question #4 : Calculating Percents

Example Question #5 : Calculating Percents

Example Question #6 : Calculating Percents

Example Question #7 : Calculating Percents

Example Question #2 : Percents

All GMAT Math Resources

Report an issue with this question

DMCA Complaint

Contact Information

Address

Complaint Details