Preface

The Digi-notes (Percentage) as presented here is prepared strictly

according to IBPS-PO, IBPS-Clerk, IBPS-SO and other PO/Clerk level
competitive exams. The main aim of the Digi-notes is to develop the
notion of the percentage so that candidate would be able to handle the
quantitative problems of the real world easily and conveniently and
hence in their competitive exams. Candidates are advised to handle the
Digi-notes by pre-assuming that they are going to learn the rule of the
language of the percentage so that you; yourself would be able to
minimize the steps required to conclude the answer of the question
and hence develop the SHORT TRICKS.

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 All the best…

Contents
1. Preface …………………………………………..………….……… 2
2. Contents ………………………………………………….………… 3
3. Introduction …………………………………………….………… 4
4. What is Percentage? ……………………………….…………. 5
5. Strategy...…………………………………………………….…….. 6
6. The Percentage calculation Techniques ……….…..... 7
7. The Application of Unitary Method …………………… 15
8. The Application of Venn diagram ………………………. 22
9. Percentage Increase/Percentage Decrease.…..….. 31
10. The Technique of Net Effect of Successive
Percentages…………………………………..…………………… 40
11. The Percentage Change in the Product of Two or More
Quantities ………………………………………………………...……. 43

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Introduction:

Everything is RELATIVE in this world; nothing is ABSOLUTE. Therefore;

to analyse and solve the quantitative problems in day to day life;
percentage plays an important role as it provides a convenient method
to relate two or more entities in the real world. It is extensively used in
data analysis in any organization.
Percentage is the backbone of the entire Quantitative Aptitude. It is
spread everywhere in the entire Quantitative Aptitude. If anyone
analyses a paper of 50 questions; he/she would find that; nearly 80%
questions (I stated it in terms of percentage) involves the concept of
percentage calculation extending from profit/loss/discount; simple
interest; compound interest; its application in Alligation; in time work
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and so on to Data Interpretation. So candidates should be well
equipped with how to speak the language of percentage while dealing
with the question.

What is Percent?

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From the mathematically perception of the percent; we could conclude
𝟏
that the mathematical meaning of the sign “%” is “𝟏𝟎𝟎”. When we
would see the sign “%” we would think as there is a multiplication by
𝟏
“𝟏𝟎𝟎”.

Strategy:

We would handle the questions of the percentage according to the

following strategy (Our main aim would be to develop those logical
steps which would make us psychologically strong enough to evolve
the so called SHORT TRICKS of a question):
1. The percentage calculation technique (Most candidates do not
know that they are weak in the percentage calculation technique
which is extensively used in Data Analysis; and they think that
Data Analysis is very tough).
2. The application of Unitary Method; when the base of the given
percentages are same.
3. The Application of Venn diagram; in questions in which the data
overlaps.
4. The Percentage Increase and/or Percentage Decrease. When the
base of the given percentages are different; the application of
initial/Final value, again it is another form of Unitary Method.

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 5. The Technique of Net Effect of Successive Percentages.
6. The percentage change in PRODUCT of two or more quantities.

The Percentage Calculation Technique:

`
Just Keep one thing in mind; while calculating the percentage value of
a given quantity (Q); try to extract the information that from which
quantity it is compared (C) and then put it in the denominator and then
multiply it by 100 and finally put “%” sign after that (just to nullify the
𝟏
multiplication by 100, its equivalent “% ≡ 𝟏𝟎𝟎” should be multiplied.).
To sum up:

From the above discussion we could conclude and easily digest the
following in our mind:

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Let us discuss it with the help of some examples:
Q.1. Find 15% of Rs.250?

Sol:
𝟏𝟓
= 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝒐𝒇 𝑹𝒔. 𝟐𝟓𝟎
= 𝑹𝒔. 𝟑𝟕. 𝟓𝟎

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 𝟒
Q.2: Change 𝟐𝟖 𝟕 % into equivalent fraction?

Sol:
𝟒 𝟐𝟎𝟎⁄
𝟐𝟖𝟕 𝟕
=
𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝟐
=𝟕

𝟕
Q.3: Change 𝟖 into equivalent percentage?

Sol:
𝟕
= ( × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) %
𝟖
𝟏
= 𝟖𝟕 𝟐 %
Q.4: 2 days is what percent of 2 weeks?

Sol:
𝟐
= (𝟐×𝟕 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) %
𝟐
= 𝟏𝟒 𝟕 %

Q.5: The salary of a person is increased from Rs.4050 to

Rs.4500. Find the percentage increased in his salary?

Sol:
𝟒𝟓𝟎
% ↑= (𝟒𝟎𝟓𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) %
𝟏
= 𝟏𝟏 𝟗 %
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Q.6: The salary of a person is decreased from Rs.4500 to
Rs.4050. Find the percentage decreased in his salary?

Sol:
𝟒𝟓𝟎
%↓=( × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) %
𝟒𝟓𝟎𝟎
= 𝟏𝟎%

Q.7: The ratio of two numbers P and Q is 3:5. Find:

1. P is what percent of Q?
2. Q is what percent of P?
3. P is what percent of (P+Q)?
4. Q is what percent of (P+Q)?
5. P is what percent less than Q?
6. Q is what percent more than P?

𝟑
Sol 1: (𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) % = 𝟔𝟎%
𝟓 𝟐
Sol 2: (𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) % = 𝟏𝟔𝟔 𝟑 %
𝟑 𝟏
Sol 3: (𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) % = 𝟑𝟕 𝟐 %
𝟓 𝟏
Sol 4: (𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) % = 𝟔𝟐 𝟐 %
𝟐
Sol 5: (𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) % = 𝟒𝟎%
𝟐 𝟐
Sol 6: ( × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) % = 𝟔𝟔 %
𝟑 𝟑

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Q8: P, Q and R are three numbers. The ratio of P and Q is 2:3
and that of Q and R 2:1. Find:
1. (P+Q) is what percent of (Q+R)?
2. (P+R) is what percent less than (P+Q+R)?
Sol: Learn the rule for combining two different ratios having
one quantity common in the given ratios:

1. 𝑷 + 𝑸 = 𝟏𝟎
𝑸+𝑹=𝟗
𝟏𝟎 𝟏
𝑹𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 = ( × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) % = 𝟏𝟏𝟏 %
𝟗 𝟏𝟏
2. 𝑷 + 𝑹 = 𝟕
𝑷 + 𝑸 + 𝑹 = 𝟏𝟑
𝟔 𝟐
𝑹𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑳𝒆𝒔𝒔 = (𝟏𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) % = 𝟒𝟔 𝟏𝟑 %

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Q.9: The salary of Ram is 20% more than the salary of Mohan.
Find the salary of Mohan is what percent less than the salary of
Ram?

Short Trick:
𝑹 : 𝑴 = 𝟏𝟐𝟎 : 𝟏𝟎𝟎
= 𝟔 : 𝟓
𝟏
𝑹𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 = (𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) %
𝟐
= 𝟏𝟔 𝟑 %

Q.10: The salary of Ram is 20% less than the salary of Mohan.
Find the salary of Mohan is what percent more than the salary
of Ram?

Short Trick:
𝑹 : 𝑴 = 𝟖𝟎 : 𝟏𝟎𝟎
=𝟒 : 𝟓
𝟏
𝑹𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 = (𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) %
= 𝟐𝟓%

Q.11: A, B and C are three persons. The income of A is 40% more

than the income of B. While the income of B is 20% less than the
income of C. Find:
1. The income of C is what percent less than the income of A?
2. The income of C is what percent less than the income of A?

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 Short Trick:
𝟑
𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑳𝒆𝒔𝒔 = (𝟐𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) %
𝟓
= 𝟏𝟎 𝟕 %
𝟑
𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒆 = ( × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) %
𝟐𝟓
= 𝟏𝟐%

Q.12: 20% of the salary of Amit is equal to 30% of the salary of

Bunty. While 80% of the salary of Bunty is equal to 40% of the
salary of Chintu. Find the total salary of Amit and Chintu is what
percent less than the total salary of Amit, Bunty and Chintu?

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Q.13: A positive numbers is by mistake multiplied by 5 instead
of being divided by 5.
1. Find the result obtained is what percent of the required
correct value?
2. Find the result obtained is what percent more than the
required correct value (OR Find the percentage error in the
calculation)?

Short Trick:
𝑳𝒆𝒕 𝑵 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕 = 𝟓 = 𝟐𝟎
𝑰𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 × 𝟓 = 𝟓𝟎𝟎
Sol 1:
𝟓𝟎𝟎
𝑹𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 = ( × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) %
𝟐𝟎
= 𝟐𝟓𝟎𝟎%
Sol 2:
𝟒𝟖𝟎
𝑹𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 = ( 𝟐𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) %
= 𝟐𝟒𝟎𝟎%

Q.14: A positive numbers is by mistake divided by 3/5 instead

of being multiplied by 5/3. Find the percentage error in the
calculation.

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 Short Trick:
𝑳𝒆𝒕 𝑵 = 𝒙
𝟓 𝟓𝒙
𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕 = 𝒙 × 𝟑 = 𝟑
𝒙 𝟓𝒙
𝑰𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕 = 𝟑 =
⁄𝟓 𝟑
Sol:
𝑹𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆
𝟎
=( × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) %
𝟓𝒙⁄
𝟑
= 𝟎% ≡ 𝑵𝒐 𝑬𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓

The Application of Unitary Method:

Recall your unitary method which we are used to apply to solve the
questions involving the quantities having either direct or inverse
relation among them. Here we have to apply unitary method involving
the quantities having direct relation. Let us discuss it with the help of
the following example:
The cost of 13 pen is 520. Find the cost of 15 pens.
We were used to approach the question as below in our childhood
classes:

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 13 Pen  Rs.520
1 Pen  Rs.40
15 Pen  Rs.600

We are used to concise it in the following form:

Rs.520
15  Rs.600
13

i.e.
Given Value
 Corresponding No of Unit Asked
Corresponding No of Unit

The same approach we will apply in the percentage questions in which

the base (from which comparison is made) of all the given percentages
are same. That is:

𝑮𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆
x (Percentage value asked)
𝑬𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆

Let us solve some examples based on the discussion above:

Q 1: 59% of a number is 760 more than the 40% of the same number.
Find 25% of the number.

Short Trick:
Sol:
𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒆
×
%𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑽𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆 𝑨𝒔𝒌𝒆𝒅
𝑬𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒆 %
𝟕𝟔𝟎
= × 𝟐𝟓%
(𝟓𝟗 − 𝟒𝟎)%
= 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎

Q. 2: The sum of 35% and 24% of a number is 472. Find 3/4th of the
number.

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 Short Trick:
Sol:
𝟑
= 𝟕𝟓%
𝟒
𝑺𝒖𝒎
= 𝑬𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑺𝒖𝒎 % × %𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑽𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆 𝑨𝒔𝒌𝒆𝒅
𝟒𝟕𝟐
= (𝟑𝟓+𝟐𝟒)% × 𝟕𝟓%
= 𝟔𝟎𝟎
Q. 3: The difference between a number and its 39% is 732; then find
the number.

Short Trick:
Sol:
𝑫𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆
= 𝑬𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑫𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 % × 𝑶𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑵𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓
𝟕𝟑𝟐
= × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
(𝟏𝟎𝟎 − 𝟑𝟗)%
= 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝟎

Q. 4: Find the difference of 28.50% and 37.50% of 75.

Short Trick:
Sol:
𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫
= × 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 %
𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 %
𝟕𝟓
= × (𝟑𝟕. 𝟓𝟎 − 𝟐𝟖. 𝟓𝟎)%
𝟏𝟎𝟎%
= 𝟔. 𝟕𝟓
Q. 5: A fruit seller had some apples. On a particular day he sold 36% of
the apples and he still remains with 448 apples. Find how many
apples had he sold on that day?

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 Short Trick:
Sol:
𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
= 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 % × 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐝 %
𝟒𝟒𝟖
= × 𝟑𝟔%
(𝟏𝟎𝟎 − 𝟑𝟔)%
= 𝟐𝟓𝟐
Q.6: In an exam; 35% of the appeared students failed while 1625
students passed. Find the difference between the number of the
passed and the number of the failed students in the exam.

Short Trick:
Sol: %𝑭 = 𝟑𝟓%
%𝑷 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎% − 𝟑𝟓% = 𝟔𝟓%
𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬
∴ 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬 % × 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 %
𝟏𝟔𝟐𝟓
= × (𝟔𝟓 − 𝟑𝟓)% = 𝟕𝟓𝟎
𝟔𝟓%

Q.7: In a village; 45% of the total population are males while 30% of the
total population are females. If the number of the children in the village
is 1500; find the difference of the number of the males and the number
of the females in the village?

Short Trick:
Sol: %𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎% − (𝟒𝟓% + 𝟑𝟎%) = 𝟐𝟓%
𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧
∴ 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 % × 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 %
𝟏𝟓𝟎𝟎
= × (𝟒𝟓 − 𝟑𝟎)% = 𝟗𝟎𝟎
𝟐𝟓%

Page 17 of 45
Q.8: Raju spends 15% of his monthly salary on house rent; 20% on food;
10% on travelling; 25% on children’s education and 5% on
miscellaneous. After all these expenditures he deposited Rs.6250 in his
savings bank account. Find how much amount did he spend on food
and house rent per month?

Short Trick:
Sol: %𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠
= 𝟏𝟎𝟎% − (𝟏𝟓% + 𝟐𝟎% + 𝟏𝟎% + 𝟐𝟓% + 𝟓%) = 𝟐𝟓%
𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠
∴ 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 × (𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 + 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐭)%
%

𝟔𝟐𝟓𝟎
= × (𝟐𝟎 + 𝟏𝟓)% = 𝑹𝒔. 𝟖𝟕𝟓𝟎
𝟐𝟓%

Q.9: In an election between two candidates; a candidate who got 84%

of the total voters on the voting list; won by a majority of 476 votes.
Find the total number of the voters on the voting list?

Short Trick:
Sol: % 𝐆𝐨𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝟏 = 𝟖𝟒%
% 𝐆𝐨𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝟐 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎% − 𝟖𝟒% = 𝟏𝟔%
𝐖𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐕𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬
∴ 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐕𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 × 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 %
%

𝟒𝟕𝟔
= × 𝟏𝟎𝟎% = 𝟕𝟎𝟎
(𝟖𝟒 − 𝟏𝟔)%

Q.10: In an exam, 6% candidates passed from class 11th. From class 12th,
an equal number of candidates appeared for the exam and 7%

Page 18 of 45
candidates got passed with 80 more candidates got passed than class
11th. Find the number of candidates appeared from each class.

Short Trick:
𝐏𝐬𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
Sol: = × 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 %
𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 %
𝟖𝟎
= (𝟕−𝟔)% × 𝟏𝟎𝟎% = 𝟖𝟎𝟎𝟎

Q.11: In an examination, a candidate must get 80% marks to pass. If a

candidate, who gets 210 marks, fails by 50 marks, find the maximum
marks.

Short Trick:
𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬
Sol: 𝐌𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐦 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 = 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 % × 𝐌𝐌%
(𝟐𝟏𝟎+𝟓𝟎)
= × 𝟏𝟎𝟎% = 𝟑𝟐𝟓
𝟖𝟎%

Q.12: A student has to secure 40% marks to pass. If he gets 90 marks

which is 40 marks more than the passing marks, find the maximum
marks set for the examination.

Short Trick:
𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬
Sol: 𝐌𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐦 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 = 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 % × 𝐌𝐌%
(𝟗𝟎−𝟒𝟎)
= × 𝟏𝟎𝟎% = 𝟏𝟐𝟓
𝟒𝟎%

Q.13: In an examination it is required to get 290 of the aggregate

marks to pass. A student gets 209 marks and is failed by 12% marks.
What are the maximum aggregate marks a student can get?
Page 19 of 45
 Short Trick:
𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬
Sol: 𝐌𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐦 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 = 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 % × 𝐌𝐌%
(𝟐𝟗𝟎−𝟐𝟎𝟗)
= × 𝟏𝟎𝟎% = 𝟔𝟕𝟓
𝟏𝟐%

Q.14: A candidate who gets 30% of the marks in a test fails by 50 marks.
Another candidate who gets 320 marks fails by 30 marks. Find the
maximum marks.

Short Trick:
𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝
Sol: 𝐌𝐚𝐱. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 = 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 %
× 𝐌𝐌%
(𝟑𝟐𝟎+𝟑𝟎) −𝟓𝟎
= × 𝟏𝟎𝟎% = 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝟑𝟎%

Q.15: A candidate scores 25% and fails by 30 marks, while another

candidate who scores 50% marks, gets 20 marks more than the
minimum required marks to pass the examination. Find the maximum
marks for the examination.

Short Trick:
𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
Sol: 𝐌𝐚𝐱. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 = 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 × 𝐌𝐌%
%
𝟐𝟎−(−𝟑𝟎)
= 𝟓𝟎%−𝟐𝟓% × 𝟏𝟎𝟎% = 𝟐𝟎𝟎

Q.16: In an exam, A scores 280 marks which are 20 more than passing
marks. B got 80% marks which are 60 more than the passing marks.
What is the passing percentage of the exam?

Page 20 of 45
 Short Trick:
% 𝐆𝐨𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬
Sol: 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 % = 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 × 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬
𝟖𝟎%
= (𝟐𝟖𝟎−𝟐𝟎)+𝟔𝟎 × (𝟐𝟖𝟎 − 𝟐𝟎) = 𝟔𝟓%

Q.17: A student got a total of 70% marks in an exam of 4 subjects. In

the three subjects he scores 81, 66 and 60 marks. If the maximum marks
of each subject are 100, then find the marks obtained in 4th subject.

Short Trick:
Sol: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭
= 𝐌𝐌 − 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬
𝟒×𝟏𝟎𝟎
= × 𝟕𝟎% − (𝟖𝟏 + 𝟔𝟔 + 𝟔𝟎) = 𝟕𝟑
𝟏𝟎𝟎%

The Application of Venn diagram:

There are some questions involving the percentage in which a certain

keywords (Only; Either-or; Both; Either-or…not both etc.) are used
which tests our ability to perceive these keywords in practical
problems.
Page 21 of 45
You are aware from your childhood classes about the Venn diagram;
and learned a formula related to it for two sets A and B having a
common value as described below:
𝒏(𝑨 ∪ 𝑩) = 𝒏(𝑨) + 𝒏(𝑩) − 𝒏(𝑨 ∩ 𝑩)
First of all you forget about this formula. If you will try to apply it in the
questions you will involve yourself only in mathematical equations and
calculations. You would not be able to perceive the question logically
that what is going on psychologically behind the scene.
Let us equip ourselves with the psychological steps to conclude the
question easily and with the help of mental calculation:
First; let us learn how to read a Venn diagram according to the given
keywords as described below:

Which Portion Description Answer

Represent
A Entire Portion x+y
Only A ≡A but Remove B from A x
not B

Page 22 of 45
 A and B Always the y
Intersection
(Common)
Portion
Either A or B (OR Only A + Only B + x+z+
simply A or B) Both y
A or B but not Exclude Both x+z
both from A or B

You could perceive and digest it easily into your mind with the help of
the following diagram:

For the better perception; consider the following example:

Q.1: In an Office; 35 people like tea, 55 people like coffee while 15
people like both tea and coffee.
1. Find the number of the people who:
1) Like Tea
2) Like Coffee
3) Like Only Tea
4) Like Only Coffee
5) Like Both Tea and Coffee
6) Like Either Tea or Coffee
7) Like Either Tea or Coffee but not Both

Page 23 of 45
 2. Find the Total number of the people in the office?
Solution: As there is a case of overlapping in the question: it would be
easy to analyse the situation with the help of the Venn diagram:

1. See the solution below extracted from the Venn diagram:

1) 20 + 15 = 35
2) 40 + 15 = 55
3) 20
4) 40
5) 15
6) 20 + 40 + 15 = 75
7) 20 + 40 = 60
2. Data Inadequate as there could be some people in the office who
might do not like both tea and coffee; about which no information
is given in the question.
Q.2: In an Office; 35 people like tea, 55 people like coffee while 15
people like both tea and coffee. 10 people like neither tea nor coffee
(i.e. do not like both)
1. Find the number of the people who:
1) DO NOT LIKE Tea
2) DO NOT LIKE Coffee
3) DO NOT LIKE Only Tea
4) DO NOT LIKE Only Coffee
5) DO NOT LIKE Both Tea and Coffee
6) DO NOT LIKE Either Tea or Coffee
Page 24 of 45
 7) DO NOT LIKE Either Tea or Coffee but not Both
2. Find the Total number of the people in the office?
Sol: Now its turn to talk about the complement part about the Venn
diagram. This discussion would give us the idea about the pivot point
for the entire Double Venn diagram questions. Let us discuss it (Try to
perceive the following diagram):

2. See the solution below extracted from the DO NOT LIKE Venn
diagram:
1) 40 + 10 = 50
2) 20 + 10 = 30
3) 40
4) 20
5) 10
6) 40 + 20 + 10 = 70
7) 40 + 20 = 60
3. Now this time we are given the information about how many
people are there in the office who DO NOT LIKE both tea and
coffee which is 10.
Now from the LIKE and DO NOT LIKE Venn diagram:
Total = [LIKE only T + LIKE only C + LIKE both] + DO NOT LIKE both
Total = Either-or LIKE + DO NOT LIKE both = (20 + 40 + 15) + 10 =
85
Page 25 of 45
 Or we can also say that (Try to convince yourself by visualizing the
situation practically)
Total = Either-or DO NOT LIKE + LIKE both = (40 + 20 + 10) + 15 =
85

We could diagrammatically fit it in our mind as:

Conclusion:

Now the learning is complete; let us apply the learning in percentage

questions:
Q.3: In an exam; 50% of the appeared students failed in English, 45%
failed in Hindi while 15% failed in both the subjects. Find the
percentage of the students who PASSED in:
1. Both English and Hindi.
2. Either English or Hindi.

Page 26 of 45
Sol: From the above Discussion (Attention: Pass is the complement of
Fail and vice-versa):

1. Pass in both = 100% - Failed in Either E or H = 100% - 80% = 20%

2. Pass in Either E or H = 100% - Failed in Both = 100% - 15% = 85%
Q.4: In a school; 55% of the students play Tennis, 50% play Hockey
while 20% play both the games.If 90 students play neither Tennis nor
Hockey; find the number of the students who:
1. DO NOT PLAY Tennis
2. DO NOT PLAY Hockey
3. DO NOT PLAY Only Tennis
4. DO NOT PLAY Only Hockey
5. DO NOT PLAY Both the games
6. DO NOT PLAY Either Tennis or Hockey
7. DO NOT PLAY Either Tennis or Hockey but not both the games.
8. TOTAL number of the students in the hostel.
9. PLAY Tennis
10. PLAY Hockey
11. PLAY Only Tennis
12. PLAY Only Hockey
13. PLAY Both the games
14. PLAY Either Tennis or Hockey
15. PLAY Either Tennis or Hockey but not both the games.

Page 27 of 45
Sol: We could conclude the following from the discussion till now:

Now Consider the DO NOT PLAY Diagram and conclude the answers
using unitary Method:

𝟗𝟎
1. 𝐃𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬 = 𝟏𝟓%
× (𝟑𝟎 + 𝟏𝟓)% = 𝟐𝟕𝟎
𝟗𝟎
2. 𝐃𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐇𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲 = × (𝟑𝟓 + 𝟏𝟓)% = 𝟑𝟎𝟎
𝟏𝟓%
𝟗𝟎
3. 𝐃𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬 = × 𝟑𝟎% = 𝟏𝟖𝟎
𝟏𝟓%
𝟗𝟎
4. 𝐃𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲 = × 𝟑𝟓% = 𝟐𝟏𝟎
𝟏𝟓%
𝟗𝟎
5. 𝐃𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 = × 𝟏𝟓% = 𝟗𝟎
𝟏𝟓%
𝟗𝟎
6. 𝐃𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐄𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲 = ×
𝟏𝟓%
(𝟑𝟎 + 𝟑𝟓 + 𝟏𝟓)% = 𝟒𝟖𝟎
7. 𝐃𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐄𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 =
𝟗𝟎
× (𝟑𝟎 + 𝟑𝟓)% = 𝟑𝟗𝟎
𝟏𝟓%
𝟗𝟎
8. 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎% = 𝟔𝟎𝟎
𝟏𝟓%
𝟗𝟎
9. 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬 = × (𝟑𝟓 + 𝟐𝟎)% = 𝟑𝟑𝟎
𝟏𝟓%
𝟗𝟎
10. 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐇𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲 = × (𝟑𝟎 + 𝟐𝟎)% = 𝟑𝟎𝟎
𝟏𝟓%
𝟗𝟎
11. 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬 = × 𝟑𝟓% = 𝟐𝟏𝟎
𝟏𝟓%
𝟗𝟎
12. 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲 = × 𝟑𝟎% = 𝟏𝟖𝟎
𝟏𝟓%

Page 28 of 45
 𝟗𝟎
13. 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 = × 𝟐𝟎% = 𝟏𝟐𝟎
𝟏𝟓%
𝟗𝟎
14. 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐄𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲 = × (𝟑𝟓 + 𝟑𝟎 +
𝟏𝟓%
𝟐𝟎)% = 𝟓𝟏𝟎
15. 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐄𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 =
𝟗𝟎
× (𝟑𝟓 + 𝟑𝟎)% = 𝟑𝟗𝟎
𝟏𝟓%

Q5: In a factory, 72% people like tea while 44% people like coffee. If
20% people like neither tea nor coffee and144 people like both tea and
coffee; find the total number of the people in the office; if.
Solution:

𝟏𝟒𝟒
𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎% = 𝟒𝟎𝟎
𝟑𝟔%
Q.6: In a factory, 72% people like tea while 44% people like coffee. If
EACH of them like either tea or coffee and 64 people like both tea and
coffee; find the number of the people who like only coffee.
Sol: EACH of them like either T or C  There are NO people in the office
who DO NOT LIKE both T and C

Page 29 of 45
 𝟔𝟒
𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 = × 𝟐𝟖% = 𝟏𝟏𝟐
𝟏𝟔%
Percentage Increase and/or Percentage Decrease:

We will apply the concept of initial and final value of given fraction.
𝑵
What we would mean by the INITIAL and FINAL vale of a fraction :
𝑫

±𝑵
𝑫
 Initial = D
 Final = D ± N
• + Increase
• - Decrease

Page 30 of 45
For Example
+𝟑
𝐅𝐨𝐫 ( ):
𝟓
 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 ≡ 𝟓
 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 ≡ 𝟓 + 𝟑 = 𝟖
−𝟑
𝐅𝐨𝐫 ( ):
𝟓
 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 ≡ 𝟓
 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 ≡ 𝟓 − 𝟑 = 𝟐
So for quick calculation you would have to learn the fractional value
of some percentages. Some are as below:

𝟏 𝟏
100% = 1 50 % = 25 % =
𝟐 𝟒

𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟑 𝟏 𝟓
1𝟐 % = 3𝟕 % = 62 % =
𝟐 𝟖 𝟐 𝟖 𝟐 𝟖

𝟏 𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 Page 31 of 45
6𝟒 % = 𝟏𝟔 16𝟑 % = 𝟔 3𝟑 𝟑 % = 𝟑
The rest is the story of unitary method as discussed below with the
help of atomic examples (Later we will discuss the combination of
these first four cases):
𝟏
Q.1: Rs.640 is increased by 𝟖𝟕 𝟐 %. Find the amount after increase.

Short Trick:
𝟏 +𝟕
I = Rs.640 𝟖𝟕 𝟐 % ≡ F Page 32 of 45
𝟖

𝟔𝟒𝟎
 𝟐
Q.2: An amount is increased by 𝟔𝟔 𝟑 % and becomes Rs.6250.
Find the initial amount.

Short Trick:
𝟐 +𝟐
Sol: I 𝟔𝟔 𝟑 % ≡ F = Rs.6250
𝟑

𝟔𝟐𝟓𝟎
𝑰= × 𝟑 = 𝟑𝟕𝟓𝟎
𝟓
𝟏
Q.3: Rs.275 is decreased by 𝟗 𝟏𝟏 %. Find the amount after decrease.

Short Trick:
𝟏 −𝟏
Sol: I = Rs.275 𝟗 𝟏𝟏 % ≡ F
𝟏𝟏

𝟐𝟕𝟓
𝑭= 𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎 = 𝟐𝟓𝟎
Q.4: An amount is decreased by𝟏𝟏𝟐𝟖 % and becomes Rs.250. Find the
𝟕
initial amount.

Short Trick:
𝟒 −𝟐
Sol: I 𝟐𝟖 𝟕 % ≡ 𝟕
F = Rs.250

𝟐𝟓𝟎
𝐈= × 𝟕 = 𝟑𝟓𝟎
𝟓
Page 33 of 45
Learning complete, now Let us apply it as a combination in different
types of questions:
𝟏 𝟐
Q.5: A man loses 𝟏𝟐 𝟐 % of his money and after spending 𝟏𝟔 𝟑 % of
the remaining; he is left with Rs.1050. Find how much had he at first?

Short Trick:
−𝟏 −𝟏
Sol: Amount Remainder 𝟔 Rs.1050
𝟖
𝑹𝒔. 𝟏𝟎𝟓𝟎
∴ 𝑨𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕 = × (𝟔 × 𝟖) = 𝑹𝒔. 𝟏𝟒𝟒𝟎
𝟓×𝟕

Q.6: A man had Rs.39200 in his locker. During first year; he deposited
25% of the amount in his locker; while during next year he deposited
𝟒
𝟐𝟖 𝟕 % of the increased amount in his locker. Find the total amount
deposited by him during a span of 2 years?

Short Trick:
+𝟏 +𝟐
Sol: 39200 Increased Amount
𝟒 𝟕
Amount after 2 years
𝑹𝒔. 𝟑𝟗𝟐𝟎𝟎
𝑨𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝟐 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 = × (𝟓 × 𝟗)
𝟒×𝟕
= 𝑹𝒔. 𝟔𝟑𝟎𝟎𝟎
∴ 𝑨𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕 𝑫𝒆𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝟐 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔
= 𝑹𝒔. 𝟔𝟑𝟎𝟎𝟎 − 𝑹𝒔. 𝟑𝟗𝟐𝟎𝟎 = 𝑹𝒔. 𝟐𝟑𝟖𝟎𝟎 Page 34 of 45
Q.7: The present population of a town is 108000. During first year; the
𝟐
population of the town increases by 𝟔𝟔 𝟑 % while decreases by
𝟐
𝟏𝟔 𝟑 % during second year. During third year the population increases
𝟏
by 𝟑𝟑 𝟑 %. Find the population of the town after 3 years.

Short Trick:
Sol:
+𝟐 −𝟏 +𝟏
108000 ? ? After 3 years
𝟑 𝟔 𝟑
𝟏𝟎𝟖𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝑨𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝟐 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 = × (𝟓 × 𝟓 × 𝟒)
𝟑×𝟔×𝟑
= 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎

Q.8: 10% people of a village having died of cholera. Due to fear; 25% of
the remaining people left the village; then the population of the town
reduces to 4050. Find the decrease in the number of the people in the
town?

Short Trick:
−𝟏 −𝟏
Sol: Initially Remaining 4050
𝟏𝟎 𝟒
𝑹𝒔. 𝟒𝟎𝟓𝟎
𝑨𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝟐 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 = × (𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎)
𝟑×𝟗
= 𝟔𝟎𝟎𝟎
∴ 𝑫𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑵𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆
= 𝟔𝟎𝟎𝟎 − 𝟒𝟎𝟓𝟎
= 𝟏𝟗𝟓𝟎
Page 35 of 45
 Q.9: The value of a machine depreciates at the rate of 10% per
annum. If its present worth is Rs.3645000; find its worth
1. After 3 years.
2. Before 3 years.

Short Trick:
Sol:1
−𝟏 −𝟏 −𝟏
Rs.3645000 ? ? After 3 years
𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎
𝟑𝟔𝟒𝟓𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝑽𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝟑 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 = × (𝟗 × 𝟗 × 𝟗) = 𝑹𝒔. 𝟐𝟔𝟓𝟕𝟐𝟎𝟓
𝟏𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎

Short Trick:
Sol:2
−𝟏 −𝟏 −𝟏
Before 3 years ? ? Rs.3645000
𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎

𝟑𝟔𝟒𝟓𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝟒
Q.10: The value
𝑽𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆 of a land
𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 appreciates
𝟑 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 = at the rate 𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟖
× (of %×per
× 𝟕𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎annum.
)
𝟗×𝟗×𝟗
If its present worth is Rs.1984500;
= 𝑹𝒔. 𝟓𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎 find its worth
1. After 2 years.
2. Before 2 years.

Short Trick:
+𝟐 +𝟐
Sol:1 Rs.2381400 ? After 2 years
𝟕 𝟕
𝑹𝒔. 𝟐𝟑𝟖𝟏𝟒𝟎𝟎
𝑨𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝟐 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 = × (𝟗 × 𝟗)
𝟕×𝟕 Page 36 of 45
= 𝑹𝒔. 𝟑𝟗𝟑𝟔𝟔𝟎𝟎
 Short Trick:
+𝟐 +𝟐
Sol:2 Before 2 years 𝟕
? 𝟕
Rs.2381400
𝐑𝐬. 𝟐𝟑𝟖𝟏𝟒𝟎𝟎
𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 = × (𝟕 × 𝟕)
𝟗×𝟗
= 𝐑𝐬. 𝟏𝟒𝟒𝟎𝟔𝟎𝟎

Q.11: Amit received a certain amount from his father. He

spends 20% of the amount on hostel expenses; 1/3rd of the
𝟐
remaining on stationary; 𝟏𝟔 𝟑 % off the amount on food and
25% of the remaining amount he spends on other expenses.
After all these expenditures he is left with Rs1200.Find the
total expenditure made by Amit.

Short Trick:
Sol:
−𝟏 −𝟏 −𝟏 −𝟏
Received R R R Rs.1200
𝟓 𝟑 𝟔 𝟒
Amount
𝑹𝒔. 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝟎
𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝑨𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕 = × (𝟒 × 𝟔 × 𝟑 × 𝟓) = 𝑹𝒔. 𝟑𝟔𝟎𝟎
𝟑×𝟓×𝟐×𝟒
∴ 𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅 = 𝑹𝒔. 𝟑𝟔𝟎𝟎 − 𝑹𝒔. 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝟎 = 𝑹𝒔. 𝟐𝟒𝟎𝟎

Page 37 of 45
 Q.12: Raju spends 40% of his monthly salary on house rent; 10%
𝟐
of the remaining on travelling; 𝟏𝟔 𝟑 % of the remaining. After
all these expenditures he saves Rs.2250. Find how much
amount did he spends on food per month?

Short Trick:
Sol: No use of 40% and 10% to conclude the answer

Remaining 𝑭𝒐𝒐𝒅 Saves = Rs.2250

𝟐 −𝟏
Amount ≡ 𝟏𝟔 𝟑 % ≡ 𝟔
After Spending on Travelling
𝑹𝒔.𝟐𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝟏
𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑭𝒐𝒐𝒅 = ( × 𝟔) × 𝟔 = 𝑹𝒔. 𝟒𝟓𝟎
𝟓
𝟐
Q.13: Shalini spends 𝟑𝟔 𝟑 % of his monthly income on house
rent; 30% on food and 20% of the remaining on other expenses.
After all these expenditures he deposited Rs.16000 in his
savings bank account. Find her monthly salary?

Short Trick:
Sol:
𝟐 −𝟏
Salary 𝟑𝟔 𝟑 % + 𝟑𝟎% R 𝟐𝟎% ≡ Rs.16000
𝟓
𝟐 −𝟐
= 𝟔𝟔 𝟑 % ≡ 𝟑
𝑹𝒔. 𝟏𝟔𝟎𝟎𝟎
∴ 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒍𝒚 𝑺𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒚 = × (𝟓 × 𝟑) = 𝑹𝒔. 𝟔𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝟒×𝟏
Net Effect of Successive Percentages:
Let us discuss it with the help of an example;

Page 38 of 45
 The salary of a person is first increased by 10% and thereafter it is
reduced by 5%. Find the net percentage change in his salary.
By conventional method:

%𝑵

𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝟗𝟓
𝑺 𝟏𝟎+ 𝑺 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝟓%− 𝑺 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎

f i
%N   100
i
110 95
S  S
 100 100  100
S
 104.5  100
 4.5%

Assume that the net effect of 10% increase and 5% decrease is N%

Now look at the following scenario:

%𝑵 %𝑵

𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝟗𝟓 𝟏𝟎𝟎+𝑵

𝑺 𝟏𝟎+ 𝑺 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝟓%− 𝑺 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎 OR 𝑺 𝟏𝟎+ ? 𝟓%− 𝑺 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎

Page 39 of 45
 Hence we can write:

100  N 110 95
S S 
100 100 100
100  N 100  10 100  (5)
` S  S 
100 100 100
100  100  100  (5)  10  100  10  (5)
 100  N 
100
10  (5)
 100  N  100  (5)  10 
100
10  (5) xy
 N  10  (5)   x y  4.5%
100 100

Hence we can conclude that; if we are given two successive

 xy 
percentages x% and y%, its net effect will be given by: N  x y  %
 100 

By putting the values of x and y with sign i.e.; for percentage increase
put the values with positive sign and for the percentage decrease put
the values with negative sign.
Now we would be able to apply in the following questions without
going into the details:
Q.1: A man increases the price of his article by 17%. After that
he allows the discount of 17% on the increased price to his
customers. Find his net profit or loss percentage in the deal.

Short Trick:
𝟏𝟕×𝟏𝟕
Sol: %𝑳 = 𝟏𝟕 − 𝟏𝟕 − 𝟏𝟎𝟎 Page 40 of 45

= −𝟐. 𝟖𝟗% ≡ 𝟐. 𝟖𝟗% 𝑳𝒐𝒔𝒔

Q.2: The population of a town decreases by 12% during the year
1988. If the percentage increase in the population of the town
in the beginning of 1990 is observed to be 1.2%; find at what %
it is increased during 1989?

Short Trick:
𝟏𝟐×𝒙
Sol: 𝟏. 𝟐 = −𝟏𝟐 + 𝒙 − 𝟏𝟎𝟎
→ 𝒙 = 𝟏𝟓%
Question 3: Find the net discount of two successive discounts
of 10% and 20%?

Short Trick:
𝟏𝟎×𝟐𝟎
Sol: %𝐃 = −𝟏𝟎 − 𝟐𝟎 + 𝟏𝟎𝟎
Percentage Change in the≡Product
= −𝟐𝟖% of Two or More Quantities:
𝟐𝟖% 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭

Let us discuss it with the help of the following example:

Q: In the product,𝐏 = 𝟓𝐚 × 𝐛, a is increased by 10% while b is

increased by 20%. The new product so formed would be what
percent more than the initial product?

Sol: By conventional Method:

Page 41 of 45
 𝑷𝒇−𝑷𝒊
%∆𝑷 = ( × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) %
𝑷𝒊
𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟐𝟎
𝟓 (𝒂 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) × (𝒃 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) − 𝟓𝒂 × 𝒃
→ %∆𝑷 = ( × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) %
𝟓𝒂 × 𝒃
𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟐𝟎
(𝟏𝟎𝟎) × (𝟏𝟎𝟎) − 𝟏
→ %∆𝑷 = ( × 𝟏𝟎𝟎) %
𝟏
→ %∆𝑷 = 𝟑𝟐%

OR (In Short Way):

𝟏𝟎 × 𝟐𝟎
%∆𝑷 = 𝟏𝟎 + 𝟐𝟎 + = 𝟑𝟐%
𝟏𝟎𝟎

Q: In the product;𝐏 = 𝟏𝟎 𝐚 × 𝐛 × 𝐜; a is increased by 10% while

b is increased by 20% and c is decreased by 10%. The new
product so formed would be what percent more than the initial
product?
Sol: %∆𝐏 = 𝐍𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞(+𝟏𝟎%; +𝟐𝟎%; −𝟑𝟎%)
%∆𝐏 = 𝐍𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞(+𝟏𝟎%; +𝟐𝟎%) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 − 𝟏𝟎%)
%∆𝐏 = 𝐍𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞(+𝟑𝟐% 𝐚𝐧𝐝 − 𝟏𝟎%)
%∆𝐏 = 𝐍𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞(+𝟑𝟐% 𝐚𝐧𝐝 − 𝟏𝟎%)
%∆𝐏 = 𝟏𝟖. 𝟖%

Hence we could conclude that we can also use the net effect method
for finding the percentage change in the product of two or more
quantities.
We will extensively use it for finding the percentage change in AREA
(Product of Two Quantities) of 2D figures and the percentage change

Page 42 of 45
in the VOLUME (Product of Three Quantities) of 3D figures. We will
we discuss the questions related to percentage change in AREA of 2D
figures (Volume questions are asked in SSC and equivalent exams; so
we will skip its discussion here)
Q.1: The length of a rectangle is increased by 10% while its breadth the
reduced by 5%. The area of the new rectangle would be what
percentage more than the area of the original area of the rectangle?
𝟏𝟎×𝟓
Sol: %∆𝐀 = 𝟏𝟎 − 𝟓 − = 𝟒. 𝟓%
𝟏𝟎𝟎

Q.2: The adjacent sides of a square are increased by 10% and 20%
respectively. The area of the rectangle so formed would be what
percent more than the area of the square?
𝟏𝟎×𝟐𝟎
Sol: %∆𝐀 = 𝟏𝟎 + 𝟐𝟎 + = 𝟑𝟐%
𝟏𝟎𝟎

Q.3: Each side of a square is decreased by 30%. Find the percentage

change in the area of the square?
𝟑𝟎×𝟑𝟎
Sol: %∆𝐀 = −𝟑𝟎 − 𝟑𝟎 − = −𝟓𝟏%
𝟏𝟎𝟎

Q.4: The length of a rectangle is increased by 10%. By what percentage

its breadth should be reduced in order to
1. Increase the area by 4.5%.
2. Maintain the same area
𝟏𝟎×𝒃
Sol.1: 𝟒. 𝟓% = 𝟏𝟎 + 𝒃 + 𝟏𝟎𝟎

→ 𝒃 = −𝟓%
𝟏𝟎×𝒃
Sol.2: 𝟎% = 𝟏𝟎 + 𝒃 + 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝟏
→ 𝒃 = −𝟗 𝟏𝟏 %

Page 43 of 45
Q.5: The radius of a circle is increased by 2 cm; from 5 cm to 7 cm. Find
the percentage change in the area of the circle.
𝟐
Sol: %∆𝒓 = 𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎 = 𝟒𝟎%
𝟒𝟎 × 𝟒𝟎
∴ %∆𝐀 = 𝟒𝟎 + 𝟒𝟎 + = 𝟗𝟔%
𝟏𝟎𝟎
Q.6: The base and height of a triangle is increased by 10% and 20%;
then the area of the triangle increases to 529 meter square. Find the
original area of the triangle.
𝟏𝟎×𝟐𝟎
Sol: %∆𝐀 = 𝟏𝟎 + 𝟐𝟎 + = 𝟑𝟐%
𝟏𝟎𝟎

𝟓𝟐𝟖
∴ 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚 = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎% = 𝟒𝟎𝟎 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐞
𝟏𝟑𝟐%
Q.7: The perimeter of a square is increased by 10%. Find the percentage
change in the area of the square.
Sol: 𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 %∆(𝟒𝒂) ≡ %∆𝒂 = 𝟏𝟎%
𝟏𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎
∴ %∆𝑨 = 𝟏𝟎 + 𝟏𝟎 + = 𝟐𝟏%
𝟏𝟎𝟎
Q.8: The circumference of a circle is decreased by 20%. Find the
percentage change in the area of the circle.
Sol: 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 %∆(𝟐𝛑𝐫) ≡ %∆𝐫 = −𝟐𝟎%
𝟐𝟎 × 𝟐𝟎
∴ %∆𝐀 = −𝟐𝟎 − 𝟐𝟎 + = −𝟑𝟔%
𝟏𝟎𝟎
Q.9: The perimeter of a rectangle is increased by 30%. Find the
percentage change in the area of the rectangle.
Sol: 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 %∆(𝟐(𝐥 + 𝐛)) ≡ %∆ 𝐒𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛
∴ 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝

Page 44 of 45
Page 45 of 45