Percentages

Hello Students, Percentages is one of the most basic chapters of Aptitude and you can expect
its applications almost in all other chapters. Problems in Profit and Loss, Compound Interest are
directly done using the concept of percentages, and therefore it becomes non-negotiable to ace
this chapter.

Percent literally means ‘for every 100’.

The importance of percentages lies in the fact that it is highly significant when comparison is
done between two quantities.

Let’s say you score 80/100 and your friend scores 80/200. Now, even though the absolute
marks are the same, which is 80, we cannot say that the performances of both of you are equal,
right?

Because for you, the maximum marks were 100, and for your friend, it was 200.

Hence, arises the need of percentages.

Remember, a fraction can only be calculated when there is a ratio, or a fraction given, and
therefore, we need to have a denominator.

● Percentage Change

𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒

Percentage Change = 𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦
× 100

Here is an important thing to know. It’s crucial to choose the original quantity right, else the
entire solution will turn out wrong. Read the following scenarios to understand better. Primarily
focus upon the language here.

𝐴−𝐵
If you are asked to calculate the % change of A from B, the correct calculation is 𝐵
× 100

𝐴−𝐵
If you are asked to calculate the % change from A to B, the correct calculation is 𝐴
× 100

𝐴−𝐵
If you are asked how much more is A relative to B, the correct calculation is 𝐵
× 100

● Percentage Increase

Let’s take the number 150. Now if you are asked to increase this number by 10%, what do you
do ?
See, you are to increase this number, right. Which means something will have to be added.

Now, it says that you are to increase this number by 10%. But 10% of what? There has to be an
absolute number 10% of which we need to find, right.

In such scenarios, it means that you have to increase 150 by 10% of itself.

Here’s how you’ll do it

= 150 + 10% of 150

= 150 + 15
= 165

● Percentage Decrease

Let’s take the number 120. If we are to reduce this number by 10%, what do we do?

Since, we are to reduce this very number, we will be subtracting it.

= 120 - 10% if 120

= 120 - 12
= 108

● Product Constancy Table

Let’s take the number 100. If you increase it by 25% you get 125, right. But if you want to get
back to the original value, by what percent will you reduce it. (Remember, the base is 125 now
and not 100).

We’ll reduce it by 20%.

100 → (25%𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒) → 125 → (20% 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒) → 100

So, understand that when something is increased by 25%, it will have to be reduced by
another 20% to get back to the original value.

We call them the product constancy table. Here are a few important ones that you should learn
so your calculation gets internalized.

11.11 % ↑ 10% ↓
 12.5 % ↑ 11.11% ↓

14.28 % ↑ 12.5 % ↓

16.66% ↑ 14.28% ↓

20% ↑ 16.66% ↓

25% ↑ 20% ↓

33.33% ↑ 25% ↓

40% ↑ 28.57% ↓

50% ↑ 33.33% ↓

● FRACTION TO PERCENTAGE TABLE

Remember, fractions can be written in terms of percentages. Go through these common fractions
and their percentages equivalence. Read them 2-3 times and try to internalize them, so in the
Aptitude Round, you will be able to get to the solution, quicker and more efficiently

1/2 = 50%

1/3 = 33.33%

1/4 = 25%

1/5 = 20%

1/6 = 16.66%

1/7 = 14.28%

1/8 = 12.50%

1/9 = 11.11%

1/10 = 10%

1/11 = 9.09%

1/12 = 8.33%
1/13 = 7.69%

1/14 = 7.14%

1/15 = 6.66%

1/16 = 6.25%

Great, these are the basic concepts that you need. Pretty easy, right. Now let’s solve some
questions to ensure a crisp grasp on this topic.

Q.1 Raj has to pay 56% of the money in his wallet to the milkman. He pays Rs 182/- to the
milkman. How much money does he have in the wallet?

a. Rs 325/-
b. Rs 330/-
c. Rs 350/-
d. Rs 364/-

Q.2 Out of the 336 Kg load that arrived by train, Ramesh got 42kg delivered to his warehouse.
What percentage of load did he get delivered?

a. 10.5%
b. 12.5%
c. 13%
d. 26%

3. A teacher says, 15% of the first number is equal to 21% of the second number. So, 18% of
the first number will be what percent of the second number?

a. 18%
b. 20%
c. 24%
d. 25.2%

4. Discussing grocery rates with her husband, a wife says, Rice is 30% cheaper than wheat.
Now, find out how much percent the price of wheat is more than that of rice?

a. 37.5%
b. 40.65%
c. 42.85%
d. 45%
5. Each side of a Rectangle is increased by 100%. What is the percentage increment in the
area ?

A. 100%
B. 200%
C. 300%
D. 400%

6. Juice is 15% costlier than water. By what percentage is the price of water lower than that of
juice?

a. 5%
b. 7.50%
c. 9.50%
d. 13.05%

7. For the sale season, a mall first increased the rate of its products by 10% and then offered a
discount of 10%. What is the change in the rate of products in comparison to the original?

a. 1%
b. 1.11%
c. 3.5%
d. 5%

8. The salaries did not rise with inflation. The butter is now 25% costlier. By what percentage
should a housewife reduce the consumption, so that her expenditure stays the same?

a. 12.5%
b. 20%
c. 25%
d. 50%

9. The cut off for the Olympiad exam at school was 40% marks. Raj Scored 20 marks and
missed the cut off by 40 marks. What were the maximum marks for the exam?

a. 100
b. 150
c. 200
d. 250

10. Seema obtained 674 marks out of the total 750 marks. What approximate percentage did
she obtain in the examination?
1) 79
2) 90
3) 81
4) 85
5) 95

11. A town had 10,000 residents in 2000. Its population declines at a rate of 10% per annum.
What will be its approximate total population in 2005?

A. 6561
B. 5904
C. 5600
D. 6295
Q. 12 A sells his goods 30% cheaper than B and 30% dearer than C. By what % is the cost of
C’s goods cheaper than B’s goods ?

A. 46.15%
B. 50%
C. 23%
D. 49%

Q.13 The length and breadth of a rectangle are changed by +20% and - 10% respectively. What
is the percentage change of the area of the rectangle ?

A. 12%
B. 8%
C. 10%
D. 15%

Q. 14 The price of petrol has increased by 50%. By what percentage should Mr Ram reduce his
consumption of petrol so his budget is balanced/

A. 33.33%
B. 28.56
C. 25
D. 14.28

Q. 15 The length, breadth and height of a room in the shape of a cuboid are increased by 10%,
20% and 50% respectively. Find the percentage change in the volume of the cuboid.

A. 77%
B. 75%
C. 88%
D. 98%