SHORT CUT METHODS/TRICKS IN PERCENTAGES

CONCEPT:
Important Points to Note:
When any value increases by
10%, it becomes 1.1 times of itself. (since 100+10 = 110% = 1.1)
20%, it becomes 1.2 times of itself.
36%, it becomes 1.36 times of itself.
4%, it becomes 1.04 times of itself.
Thus we can see the effects on the values due to various percentage increases.
When any value decreases by
10%, it becomes 0.9 times of itself. (Since 100-10 = 90% = 0.9)
20%, it becomes 0.8 times of itself
36%, it becomes 0.64 times of itself
4%, it becomes 0.96 times of itself.
Thus we can see the effects on a value due to various percentage decreases.
Note:
1. When a value is multiplied by a decimal more than 1 it will be increased and when multiplied by
less than 1 it will be decreased.
2. The percentage increase or decrease depends on the decimal multiplied.
Eg: 0.7 => 30% decrease, 0.67 => 33% decrease, 0. 956 => 4.4% decrease and so on.
Eg: When the actual value is x, find the value when it is 30% decreased.
Soln: 30% decrease => 0.7 x.
Eg: A value after an increase of 20% became 600. What is the value?
Soln: 1.2x = 600 (since 20% increase)
x = 500.
Eg: If 600 is decrease by 20%, what is the new value?
Soln: new value = 0.8 X 600 = 480. (Since 20% decrease)
Thus depending on the decimal we can decide the % change and vice versa.
Eg: When a value is increased by 20%, by what percent should it be reduced to get the actual
value?
Soln: (It is equivalent to 1.2 reduced to 1 and we can use % decrease formula)
% decrease = (1.2 1)/1.2 X 100 = 16.66%.
When a value is subjected multiple changes, the overall effect of all the changes can be obtained by
multiplying all the individual factors of the changes.
Eg: The population of a town increased by 10%, 20% and then decreased by 30%. The new
population is what % of the original?
Soln: The overall effect = 1.1 X 1.2 X 0.7 (Since 10%, 20% increase and 30% decrease)
= 0.924 = 92.4%.
Eg: Two successive discounts of 10% and 20% are equal to a single discount of ___
Soln: Discount is same as decrease of price.
So, decrease = 0.9 X 0.8 = 0.72 => 28% decrease (Since only 72% is remaining).
practice problems:
If 20% of 40% of a = 25% of a% of b, then what is b?
a. 8/5 b. 16/25 c. 8/25 d. None
2. By what % is 200 more than 50?
a. 100 b. 200 c. 300 d. None
3. A value changes from 30 to 80. What is the percentage change?
a. 125 b. 166.66 c. 156 d. None
4. The population of a city is increased by 30% and thus became 78000. What is the original
population?
a. 76000 b. 64200 c. 60000 d. None
5. In a theatre, the number of seats is increased by 20% and the price per ticket is increased by 10%
but the public response decreased by 30%. What is the net effect on the economy of the theatre?
a.10% rise b. 7% fall c. 7% rise d. None
6. A saves 20% of his income. His income is increased by 20% and so he increased his expenditure
by 30%. What is the percentage change in his savings?
a. 20% fall b. 4% fall c. 20% rise d. 4% rise
7. The price of petrol is increased by 25%. By what percent the consumption be reduced to make the
expenditure remain the same?
a. 25% b. 33.33% c. 20% d. None
8. The side of a square is increased by 20%. The percentage change in its area is ___
a. 20% b. 44% c. 36% d. None
9. If the length of a rectangle is increased by 33.33%, by what percentage should the breadth be
reduced to make the area same?
a. 20% b. 33.33% c. 25% d. None
10. In an election between two candidates, A and B, A secured 56% of the votes and won by 48000
votes. Find the total number of votes polled if 20% of the votes were declared invalid.
a. 500000 b. 400000 c. 600000 d. None
clear explanation for above problems:
1/5 X 2/5 X a = X a X b => b = 8/25
% difference = (200-50)/50 X 100 = 300 %
% increase = (80-30)/30 X 100 = 166.66 %
1.3 x = 78000 => x = 60000.
Net effect = 1.2 X 1.1 X 0.7
= 0.924 => 7.6% decrease.
Let I be the income.
Expenditure = 0.8I Savings = 0.2I => 20%
New income = 1.2I (since 20% rise)
New expenditure = (0.8I) X 1.3 (Since 30% rise)
= 1.04I
So, new savings = 1.2I 1.04I = 0.16I => 16%
(So income decreased form 20% to 16%)
% decrease = (20-16)/20 X 100 = 20%.
It is equivalent to 1.25 decreased to 1.
% decrease = (1.25-1)/1.25 X 100 = 20%
8. % change in area = 1.2 X 1.2 (since area = side X side)
= 1.44 => 44%.
It is equivalent to 1.25 decreased to 1. So 20% decrease.
Valid Votes:
A got 56% => B got 44%
Difference = 12% = 48000
So, 100% = 400000. These are valid votes.
But valid votes are only 80% of total votes.
So, 80% of total votes = 400000 => total votes = 500000