PERCENT WORD 
PROBLEMS

Problem 1 :

A student earned a grade of 80% on a math test that had 20 problems. How many problems on this test did the student answer correctly? (round to the nearest whole number)

Solution :

A student earned a grade = 80%

Total number of problems = 20

Number of problems answered correctly = 80% of 20

= (80/100) × 20

= 16

So, he answered 16 problems correctly.

Problem 2 :

There are 36 carpenters in a crew. On a certain day, 29 were present. What percent showed up for work? (round to the nearest tenth)

Solution :

Total number of workers = 36

Number of workers were present = 29

Percentage of workers were present = (29/36) x 100%

= 80.5%

Problem 3 :

A metal bar weighs 8.15 ounces. 93% of the bar is silver. How many ounces of silver are in the bar? (round to the nearest thousandth)

Solution :

Weight of metal bar = 8.15 ounces

Percentage of silver in the bar = 93%

Quantity of silver in the bar = 93% of 8.15

= 0.93 (8.15)

= 7.5795

So, 7.58 ounces of silver are in the bar.

Problem 4 :

A woman put $580 into a savings account for one year. The rate of interest on the account was 6  1/2%. How much was the interest for the year in dollars and cents? (round to the nearest cent)

Solution :

A savings account for one year = $580

The rate of interest = 6 1/2%

= 13/2 % of 580

= (13/200) × 580

= $37.7

1 dollar = 100 cents

= 3770 cents.

Dollars = $37.7

In cents = 3770

Problem 5 :

A student answered 86 problems on a test correctly and received a grade 98%. How many problems were on the test, if all the problems were worth the same number of points? (round to the nearest whole number)

Solution :

Let x be the total number of questions.

98% of x were answered correctly.

98% of x = 86

0.98x = 86

x = 86/0.98

= 87.75

So, total number of questions is 88.

Problem 6 :

Manuel found a wrecked Trans – Am that he could fix. He bought the car for 65% of the original price of $7200. What did he pay for the car? (round to the nearest dollar)

Solution :

Original price of the car = $7200

Price of the car = 65% of 7200

= 0.65 (7200)

= 4680

So, the price of the car is $4680.

Problem 7 :

Pamela bought an electric drill at 85% of the regular price. She paid $32.89 for the drill. What was the regular price? (round to the nearest cent)

Solution :

Bill amount = $32.89

Let x be the regular price.

85% of bill x = 32.89

0.85 x = 32.89

x = 32.89/0.85

x = 38.69

So, the regular price is 38.7.

Problem 8 :

A crew is made up of 8 men; the rest are women. 66  2/3% of the crew are men. How many people are in the crew?

Solution :

Let ‘x’ be the number of people in crew.

Number of men = 8

Percentage of men = 66  2/3%

66  2/3% of x = 8

200/3% of x = 8

66.6% of x = 8

 0.66 x = 8

x = 12

So, 12 people are in the crew.

Problem 9 :

Ben earns $12,800 a year. About 15% is taken out for taxes. How much is taken out for taxes?

Solution :

Ben's earning = $12,800

Tax = 15%

Amount taken = (15/100) × 12800

= 1920

So,$1920 taken out for taxes.

Problem 10 :

At a sale, shirts were sold for $15 each. This price was 80% of their original  price. What was the original price?

Solution :

Selling price = $15

Let x be the original price.

80% of the original price = 15

0.80 x = 15

x = 15/0.80

= 18.75

So, the original price is $18.75.

Problem 11 :

There are 32 students in a class. Nine of those students are women. What percent are men? (round to the nearest tenth)

Solution :

Total number of students = 32

Number of women students = 9

Number of men = 32 – 9

= 23

Percent are men = (23/32) × 100

= 71.9

So, percent are men is 71.9%

Problem 12 :

The Royals softball team played 75 games and won 55 of them. What percent of the games did they lose? (round to the nearest tenth)

Solution :

Royals softball team played = 75

Number of games they won = 55

Number of games they loss = 75 - 55

= 20

= (20/75) ×100

= 27

So, the games they loss = 27%