Worded Problems Practice Test

1) While covering a distance or 24 km, a man noticed that after walking for 1 hour and 40 minutes, the distance
covered by him was 5/7 of the remaining distance. What was his speed in m/s?
1.33
1.66
1.12
1.55
1.21
Correct
Let us take the distance traveled till now as d
So, d= 5/7 * (24-d)
which gives d=10 km = 10000 m
1hr40min = 100*60 seconds
s=d/t = 10000/100*60 = 1.66

2) Tom borrowed $600 at 10% per year, simple interest, for 3 years. How much did he have to repay (principal +
interest) at the end of the 3 year period?
$780
$680
$650
$740
$590
The interest to pay is given by:
Interest = 600 * 10% * 3 = $180
Total to repay
600 + 180 = $780

3) A desk is being sold at a 36% discount. The sale price is $496. What was its original price?
$575
$950
$650
$800
$775
Step 1:
Let the original price be = x
Discount rate = 36%
Step2:
Discount = 36% of x = 0.36 × x = 0.36x
Sale price = Original price − Discount = x − 0.36x = 0.64x

Step 3:
Sale price = $496 = 0.64x
Solving for x
x = ⁴⁹⁶/₀.₆₄= $775

So, original price = $77

4) Mary has a monthly salary of $1200. She spends $280 per month on food. What percent of her monthly salary
does she spend on food?
35%
25%
23%
27%
30%

The part of her salary that is spent on food is $280 out of her monthly salary of $1200
percent = part / whole = 280 / 1200 = 0.23 (rounded to 2 decimal places)
Multiply and divide 0.23 by 100 to convert in percent
percent = 0.23 * 100 / 100 = 23 / 100 = 23%

5) Anne can finish a job in 10 days. Together, Rachel and Anne can finish the same job in 7 days. How many days
will it take Rachel to finish the job alone?
23 ⅓
³/₇
³/₇₀
20 ⅓
⁷:/₃

70x ( ⅒ + ¹/ₓ = ⅐) 70x

⁷:ˣ/₁₀ + ⁷:ˣ/ₓ = ⁷:ˣ/ₓ
7x + 70 = 10x
70= 10x - 7x
70=3x
Answer= 23 ⅓

6) One trip around a running track is 440 yards. One jogger can complete one lap in 8 minutes, the other can
complete it in 6 minutes. How long will it take for both joggers to arrive at their starting point together if they
start at the same time and maintain their jogging pace?
36 minutes
24 minutes
48 minutes
15 minutes
12 minutes

7) Lisa bought a big bag of candy at a warehouse store. There are 102 pieces of candy in the bag. Lisa needs to
divide the candy up into smaller bags. She wants to put the same number of pieces in each small bag. How may
small bags could Lacey use?
20
21
19
17
18

8) If a watch is losing 1.5 minutes for every 12 hours that go by, how many minutes will it lose in one week?
26
21
22
23
24

The given ratio is 1.5 minutes / 12 hours.

equation: 1.5 minutes = x minutes
12 hours 1 week

Note: We need to convert 1 week to hours because the units must be the same.
use: 24 hours = 1 day, 7 days = 1 week,
therefore: 1 week = 168 hours (24∙ 7)
equation: 1.5 minutes = x minutes
12 hours 168 hours
solve: 1.5(168) = 12x
21 = x
The watch will lose 21 minutes in one week.
9) An executive drove from home at an average speed of 30 mph to an airport where a helicopter was waiting. The
executive boarded the helicopter and flew to the corporate offices at an average speed of 60 mph. The entire
distance was 150 miles; the entire trip took three hours.

Find the distance from the airport to the corporate offices.

150 miles
200 miles
180 miles
130 miles
120 miles

Since we have been asked to find the distance from the airport to the corporate office (that is the distance he spent flying),
let us assign that specific value as 'x'.
Thus, the distance he spent driving will be '150 - x'
Now, in the first row, we have the distance in terms of 'x' and we have been given the speed. Thus we can calculate the
time he spent driving in terms of 'x'.

Time(1) = Distance(1)/Speed(1) = (150 - x)/30

Similarly, in the second row, we again have the distance in terms of 'x' and we have been given the speed. Thus we can
calculate the time he spent flying in terms of 'x'.

Time(2) = Distance(2)/Speed(2) = x/60

Now, notice that we have both the times in terms of 'x'. Also, we know the total time for the trip. Thus, summing the
individual times spent driving and flying and equating it to the total time, we can solve for 'x'.

Time(1) + Time(2) = Time(3) --> (150 - x)/30 + x/60 = 3 --> x = 120 miles

Answer : 120 miles

10) The amount of paper recycled is directly proportional to the number of trees that recycling saves. If recycling
2,000 pounds of paper saves 17 trees, how many trees are saved when 5,000 pounds of paper are recycled?
63
45
42.5
45.5
35

11) If a picture frame is 27 cm long and 18 cm wide, what is the ratio of its length to its width?
6:3
5:3
2:3
4:2
3:2

12) Five out of every seven households have cable TV. If 42,000 households in a certain city have a TV, how many
do not have cable TV?
13,000
16,000
15,000
12,000
14,500

The given ratio is 5 cable TV/ 7 households.

equation: 5 cable TV = x cable TV
7 household 42000 household
solve: 5(42000) = 7x
30000 = x
In the proportion the variable represents how many have cable TV. However, the question asks how many do not have
cable TV. Do not assume that once you solve the equation you have answered the question.
Total household with TV - have cable = do not have cable
42000 - 30000 = 12000
Out of the 42,000 households that have a TV, 12000 do not have cable TV.

13) A tank has a capacity of 200 pints. How many gallons of water would it take to fill the tank to 3/10 of its
capacity? (1 gallon = 8 pints)
8 gallons
9 gallons
7.5 gallons
7 gallons
8.5 gallons

since 1 gallon = 8 pints;

200/8 gallons is the capacity => 25 gallons
3/10 of capacity of 25 gallons=> 3/10*25

Answer=> 75/10 or 7.5

14) A computer software retailer used a markup rate of 40%. Find the selling price of a computer game that cost
the retailer $25.
$45
$80
$35
$60
$70

The markup is 40% of the $25 cost, so the markup is:

(0.40)(25) = 10

Then the selling price, being the cost plus markup, is:
25 + 10 = 35

Answer= $35

15) When Leonardo turns 9, his height is 1.20 m. His height increases by 0.06 m a year during the next 5 years.
What will Leonardo's height be when Leonardo turns 14?
1.40 m
1.50 m
1.6 m
1.75 m
1.30 m

The correct answer is 1.50 m. This can be calculated as follows:

1.20 m + (5 years * 0.06 m/year) = 1.20 m + 0.30 m = 1.50 m.

16) An item that regularly sells for $425 is marked down to $318.75. What is the discount rate?
25%
30%
40%
35%
45%

First, find the amount of the markdown:

425 – 318.75 = 106.25
Then calculate "the markdown over the original price", or the markdown rate: ($106.25) is (some percent) of ($425), so:
106.25 = (x)(425)
...and the relative markdown over the original price is:
x = 106.25 ÷ 425 = 0.25

Answer= 25%

17) Two kinds of Vodka are mixed in the ratio 1:2 and 2:1 and they are sold fetching the profit 10% and 20%
respectively. If the vodkas are mixed in equal ratio and the individual profit percent on them are increased by 4/3
and 5/3 times respectively, then the mixture will fetch the profit of:
Cannot be determined
23%
21%
20%
18%

The profit on the first kind of vodka = x%;

The profit on the second kind of vodka = y%.
When they are mixed in the ratio 1:2 (total of 3 parts) the average profit is 10%: (x + 2y)/3 = 10.
When they are mixed in the ratio 2:1 (total of 3 parts) the average profit is 20%: (2x + y)/3 = 20.
Solving gives: x = 30% and y = 0%.
After the individual profit percent on them are increased by 4/3 and 5/3 times respectively the profit becomes 40% and
0%, on the first and te second kinds of vodka, respectively.

If they are mixed in equal ratio (1:1), then the mixture will fetch the profit of (40 + 0)/2 = 20%.

Answer: 20%

18) There are only 350,000 who voted which is just 20% of the registered voters. What is the total number of
registered voters?
70,000
17,000
95,000
1,750,000
1,750
Answer:
350,000/ 0.20 = 1,750,000

19) In the Philippines, 13 out of every 20 cans are recycled. What percent of cans are recycled?
65%
40%
80%
55%
75%

13/20 = 0.65
Answer= 65%

20)Liam has originally 15, 000 pesos, if he spends 25% of his money for new clothes, how much is left?
3,500
11,250
12,000
13,750
3,750
Solution :
100% - 25 % = 75%
75% = 0.75
15,000 x 0.75 = 11,250

21) At 25% discount, Mang Kanor paid P150.75 for a bag. What was the original price of the bag?
₱37.69
₱603.00
₱150.75
₱201.00
₱503.25

22) Which of the following is equal to 85 percent of 160?

1.88
136
188
13.6
13,600

85% of 160
0.85 X 1600.85 X 160 = 136
Answer is 136

23) Presently, Fred is 4 times as old as Gary. In 10 years, Fred will be 3 times as old as Gary. How old (in years) will
Fred be in 3 years?
83
62
50
75
35
Correct
Present age of Fred be = F years and Gary's = G years
therefore;
F = 4G
In 10 years;
F+10 = 3(G +10)
or G = 20 years which is Gray's present age
Therefore F = 20 * 4 = 80 years which is the present age (since we know F = 4G)
In 3years Fred will be = 80 +3 = 83 year

24) A recipe calls for 2 eggs for every 5 cups of flour. A local chef will use 35 cups of flour, how many eggs must he
have?
14
17
16
15
18

The given ratio is 2 eggs/ 5 cups.

equation: 2 eggs = x eggs
5 cups 35 cups

solve: 2(35) = 5x
14 = x
The chef will need 14 eggs.
25) The original price of a shirt was $20. It was decreased to $15 . What is the percent decrease of the price of the
shirt?
30%
30%
20%
45%
25%
The absolute decrease is:
20 - 15 = $5
The percent decrease is the absolute decrease divided by the original price (part/whole).
percent decease = 5 / 20 = 0.25

Multiply and divide 0.25 to obtain percent.

percent decease = 0.25 = 0.25 * 100 / 100 = 25 / 100 = 25%

26) Sarah is making bead necklaces as treats for her party. She has 90 green beads and 108 blue beads. What is
the greatest number of identical necklaces she can make if she wants to use all of the beads?
15
16
11
18
12

27) A coat was sold at a 30% discount sale for $140. What was the original price of the coat?
$350
$180
$200
$230
$400

Let x = the original price of the coat

A coat was sold at a 30% discount sale for $140
Another way to state this is to say that, during the sale, people paid 70% of the original price
That is: 70% of x = $140
Or: 0.7x = 140
Solve to get: x = 140/0.7 = 200
Answer: $200

28) A rug manufacturer produces rugs at a cost of ₱75 per rug. What is the manufacturer's gross profit from the
sale of 150 rugs if 2/3 of the rugs are sold for ₱150 per rug and the rest are sold for ₱200 per rug?
₱ 13,750
₱ 10,350
₱ 11,250
₱ 17,800
₱ 16,250

Total production cost = 150*75 = 11250

Selling price of the 2/3 of 150 rugs = 100 * 150 =- 15000

Selling price of 50 rugs = 50*200 =10000

Total sales = 10000 + 15000 = 25000

Gross profit = 25000 - 11250 = 13750

Answer= ₱ 13,750
29) A man cycling along the road noticed that every 12 minutes a bus overtakes him and every 4 minutes he meets
an oncoming bus. If all buses and the cyclist move at a constant speed, what is the time interval between
consecutive buses?
8 minutes
10 minutes
5 minutes
9 minutes
6 minutes

30) Teejay bought an ice cream from Japanese convenience store with a tagged price of ¥5,000. The cashier told
them that the ice cream is subject to 5% tax. How much Teejay has to pay?
¥3,250
¥250
¥5,250
¥4,750
¥5,500

5,000 x 0.05 = 250

5,000 + 250 = 5,250

Answer = ¥5,250

31) What is the marked price of a pair of shoes which was discounted ₱350 at 35% discount?
₱4,500
₱2,000
₱3,500
₱3,000
₱1,000

350/ 0.35 = 1,000

32) A dish company needs to ship an order of 117 glass bowls. The company will put the bowls into several boxes.
Each box must contain the same number of bowls. How many boxes could the company use for the order?
12
13
11
14
16

33) Maria is retired and withdraws money from her retirement account. But a tax of 20% is automatically
withheld. If she needs $1200, how much must she actually request?
$1,650
$1,450
$1,800
$1,700
$1,500

Since 20% will be withheld, Maria will receive 80% of her request. So the question is: $1200 is 80% of how much?
80 : 100 = 4 : 5 = 1200 : ?
4 has been multiplied by 300. Therefore, 5 must be multiplied by 300:
4 : 5 =1200 : 1500.
$1200 is 80% of $1500
34) John can build a wall in 30 days and Peter can demolish the same wall in 40 days.If they work on alternate
days with John starting the job on the 1st day , then in how many days will the wall be built for the first time?
240
256
233
265
234

John can build a wall in 30 days and Peter can demolish the same wall in 40 days
So, in ONE day, John can build 1/30 of the entire wall
And, in ONE day, Peter can demolish 1/40 of the entire wall
So, AFTER TWO DAYS, the portion of the wall standing = 1/30 - 1/40 = 1/120

So, AFTER TWO DAYS, 1/120 of the wall is built (and remains standing)
So, after FOUR DAYS, 2/120 of the wall is built (and remains standing)
And after SIX DAYS, 3/120 of the wall is built (and remains standing)
.
.
.
And after 232 DAYS, 116/120 of the wall is built (and remains standing)

On DAY 233, it's John's turn to build.

Remember that, in ONE day, John can build 1/30 of the entire wall
In other words, in ONE day, John can build 4/120 of the entire wall

So, after 232 DAYS, 116/120 of the wall was built, and on the 233rd day, John built the remaining 4/120 of the wall.
So, WALL COMPLETE!!

Answer: 233

35) At a toy factory it takes two machines 50 minutes to create 10 teddy bears. How many teddy bears can one
machine create in 30 minutes?
2
7
6
5
3

First, find how many teddy bears one machine can create in 50 minutes:
10 ÷ 2 = 5
Now find how long it takes one machine to create 1 teddy bear:
50 ÷ 5 = 10 minutes per teddy bear At last find how many teddy bears the machine can create in 30 minutes:
30 ÷ 10 = 3 teddy bears

36) Five bananas weigh as much as 3 star apples. In this rate, how many star apples will weigh as much as 45
bananas?
29
28
30
31
27

37) Smith invested $5000 for two years. For the first year, the rate of interest was 7% and the second year it was
8.5%. How much interest did he earn at the end of the two year period?
$920.54
$654.08
$804.75
 $440.45
$670.34

Interest at the end of the first year:

7% * 5000 = $350
Interest at the end of the second year:
8.5% * (5000 + 350) = $454.75

Total interest at the end of the two year period is:

$350 + $454.75 = $804.75

Answer=$804.75

38) If a Play Station 4 was bought for $558 after a 10% discount, what was the original price of the Play Station 4?
$680
$620
$550
$700
$660

Step 1:

Let the original price be = x

Discount rate = 10%

Step 2:

Discount = 10% of x = 0.10 × x = 0.1x

Sale price = Original price − Discount = x − 0.1x = 0.9x

Step 3:

Sale price = $558 = 0.9x

Solving for x

x = ⁵⁵⁸/₀.₉ = $620

So, original price = $620

39) Our school has 8 male teachers who comprise 25% of all our teachers. How many teachers do we have?
42
52
32
22
62

40) Arianne decided to sell his 3-year old car at ₱800,000. if she bought it at ₱1,000,000, what is the rate of its
depreciation?
20%
35%
2%
80%
75%

1,000,000 - 800,000 = 200,000

200,000/1,000,000 = 0.2 or 20%