Percentage Problems
1. In Chicago in the year 2000, there were approximately 1.053 million African Americans, 907 thousand whites (non-Hispanic), and 754 thousand Hispanics, and 181 thousand others (other races or two or more races). What percent of Chicagoans in 2000 were of Hispanic origin?
Solution:
% of Hispanics = # of Hispanics / Total Population
% of Hispanics = 754,000 / (1,053,000 + 907,000 + 754,000 + 181,000)
% of Hispanics = 0.26 * 100%
% of Hispanics = 26%
2. 54% of DePauls student body of approximately 21,000 is female. Approximate how many females attend DePaul?
Solution:
% of female students = # of female students / 21,000
# of female students = % of female students * 21,000
# of female students = 54% of female students * 21,000
# of female students = 0.54 * 21,000
# of female students = 11,340
Percentage Change (Note: second problem is over 100%)
3. Chicagos population grew from 2.78 million in 1990 to 2.90 million in 2000. By how many percent did it grow?
Solution:
Percentage Change = (new old ) / old
Percentage Change = (2.90 2.78) / 2.78
Percentage Change = 0.0432
Percentage Change = 0.0432 * 100%
Percentage Change = 4.32%
4. In 1996, 94,007 tons of waste was recycled in Chicagos blue bag recycling program. In the year 2000, 296,363 tons were recycled. By how many percent did it increase from 1996 to 2000?
Solution:
Percentage Change = (296,363 tons 94,007 tons) / 94,007 tons
Percentage Change = 202,356 / 94,007
Percentage Change = 2.15 * 100%
Percentage Change = 215%
5. The life expectancy in Canada is 79.1 years; the life expectancy in the US is 76.0 years. By how many percent is the life expectancy of Canada higher than the life expectancy in the US?
Solution:
The key word for this kind of problems is "than". Whatever is after "than" should go in the denominator (bottom part).
How many percent more = (Canada US) / US
How many percent more = (79.1 76) / 76
How many percent more = 3.1 / 76
How many percent more = 0.0407 * 100%
How many percent more = 4.07%
6. By how many percent is the life expectancy of people in the US lower than the life expectancy in Canada?
Solution:
How many percent less = (US Canada) / Canada
How many percent less = (76 79.1) / 79.1
How many percent less = 3.1 / 79.1
How many percent less = 0.0392 * 100%
How many percent less = 3.92%
7. How many times more is the life expectancy of Canada higher than the life expectancy in the US?
Solution:
We expect a number here!
How many times more = Canada / US
How many times more = 79.1 / 76
How many times more = 1.041
8. Spot prices for crude oil are rather volatile. From 1998 to 1999, spot prices for crude oil decreased by 28%. From 1999 to 2000, they increased by 106%. What was the percentage change over the two year period from 1998 to 2000?
Solution:
A short way to do this kind of problem is
Percentage change over two year period = (1 ± %)(1 ± %) 1
Percentage change over two year period = (1 28%)(1 + 106%) 1
Percentage change over two year period = (1 0.28)(1 + 1.06) 1
Percentage change over two year period = (0.72)(2.06%) 1
Percentage change over two year period = 1.4832 1
Percentage change over two year period = 0.4832 * 100%
Percentage change over two year period = 48.32%
An increase of 48.32% over the original price!
9. Suppose you are earning a salary of $1,000 per week. Your company experiences a slowdown in earnings, and asks all workers to take a 20% pay cut. What is your salary after the cut? Six months later, the company recovers and it offers you a 20% increase on your current salary. How much will you be earning after the increase?
Solution:
New salary = (1 20%)(1 + 20%) 1
New salary = (1 0.20)(1 + 0.20) 1
New salary = (0.80)(1.20) 1
New salary = 0.96 1
New salary = 0.04 * 100%
New salary will have a decrease of 4%, or ($1000 $1000 * 0.04) = $960
10. According to the official 2000 census, the Hispanic population of the US in 2000 was 35,305,818. It rose by an astounding 57.9% from 1990 to 2000. What was the Hispanic population in 1990?
Solution:
1990 → 2000
old new
old 35,305,818
If we use the percentage change formula, then
% change = (new old) / old
57.9% = (35,305,818 old) / old
doing some algebra
0.579 * old = 35,305,818 old
0.579 * old + old = 35,305,818
1.579 * old = 35,305,818
old = 35,305,818 / 1.579
old = 22,359,606
11. From a news article: "In the first six months of 1996, the number of deaths [from AIDS] fell 12% to 22,000 [compared to the same period a year earlier]." How many AIDS deaths were there during the first six months of 1995?
Solution:
1995 → 1996
old new
old 22,000
Because there was a 12% decrease, we have to use 12%
12% = (22,000 old) / old
0.12 * old = 22,000 old
0.12 * old + old = 22,000
0.88 * old = 22,000
old = 22,000 / 0.88
old = 25,000